not 
ti 


THE  SLAVES  AND  SERVANTS  WERE  ALL  MARIDS  OF  THE  GENII   [Page  173] 


TfORE  TALES 

FROM  THE 


aotan  j  t 


BASED  ON  THE  TRANSLATION 
FROM  THE  ARABIC  BY* 
EDWARD  WILLIAM  LANE 
+     t 


SELECTED,  EDITED  AND  ARRANGED 
•  *    FOR  YOUNG  PEOPLE  BY    4 

FRANCES  JENKINS  OLCOTT 


ILLUSTRATIONS  AND 
DECORATIONS  BY* 

WILLY   POGANY 


NEW  YORK 

HENRY  HOLT  AND  COMPANY 


COPYRIGHT,  1915, 

BY 
HENRY   HOLT   AND    COMPANY 


I 

Editor's  Preface 

HIS  second  volume  of  the  Arabian  Nights'  En- 
tertainments, contains  some  old  favourites,  as 
well  as  a  number  of  delightful  stories  new  to 
most  children. 

Among  the  old  favourites  are :  "  Story  of  the 
Hunchback;"  "  Story  of  Prince  Ahmed  and  the 
Fairy  Periebanou;"  "Story  of  the  Princess  Periezade 
and  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  Singing  Tree,  and  the 
Golden  Water;"  "Story  of  Prince  Camaralzaman  and 
the  Princess  Badoura." 

The  new  stories  will  doubtless  prove  equally  fascinat- 
ing, among  them  are:  "Story  of  Joudar,"  telling  of 
Servant-Genii,  subterranean  treasure,  and  magic  saddle- 
bags that  present  their  owner  with  any  delicious  food 
he  may  ask  for; — "Story  of  Mahomed  Ali  the  Jeweller, 
or  the  False  Caliph,"  the  tale  of  a  mysterious  bark 
on  the  River  Tigris,  and  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Er 
Raschid  and  his  Vizier  Jaafar; — "Story  of  Ali  of  Cairo," 
and  his  adventures  with  the  Treasure-Genii; — "Story 
of  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,"  whose  laziness  was  such 
that  his  mother  fed  him  and  gave  him  drink  while  he 
lay  on  his  side,  and  whose  good  fortune  came  to  him, 
in  spite  of  a  Marid-Ape,  in  the  enchanted  City  of  Brass; 
— "Story  of  Abdallah  of  the  Land  and  Abdallah  of  the 
Sea*,"  a  tale  of  precious  sea-jewels  and  the  wonders  of 
the  sea-cities. 

The  pages  abound  in  beautiful  damsels;  brave  youths; 

iii 


iv  Editor's   Preface 

pious  fishermen;  Genii  good  and  bad;  magnificent  pal- 
aces; gardens  filled  with  trees  and  sweet-scented  flowers 
and  singing  birds  that  proclaim  the  praises  of  Allah  the 
High,  the  Great;  also  treasures  of  precious  stones 
and  jewels,  and  of  gold  and  silver;  and  subterranean 
wonders. 

The  play  of  Oriental  fancy  and  richness  of  imagina- 
tion, the  exaggerations  of  humour,  and  the  detail  that 
gives  delight,  all  are  here,  as  are  likewise  the  Arab 
virtues  of  reverence  for  God's  power,  respect  for  the 
wisdom  of  old  age,  and  love  of  hospitality.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  stories  are  stripped  of  coarseness  and 
those  other  elements  harmful  to  children  are  removed, 
iane's  scholarly  version  has  been  followed,  except  in 
the  case  of  two  tales, — "Story  of  Prince  Ahmed"  and 
"Story  of  the  Princess  Periezade,5'  which  are  edited 
from  the  version  of  Jonathan  Scott  translated  from 
the  French  of  Galland. 

FRANCES  JENKINS  OLCOTT. 
August  20th,  1914. 


Contents 


Chapter  I 

PAGE 

STORY  OF  THE  HUNCHBACK i 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  CHRISTIAN  MERCHANT— THE 
LEFT  HAND 7 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  SULTAN'S  STEWARD— THE 
CHEST  OF  THE  LADY  ZOBEIDE 17 

STORY  TOLD   BY  THE  JEWISH  PHYSICIAN— THE 
NECKLACE  OF  JEWELS 24 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  TAILOR— THE  YOUNG  MAN 
AND  THE  BARBER 30 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  BARBER— THE  BEHEADED 
TEN 37 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  BARBER— THE  TRAY  OF  GLASS    39 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  BARBER— THE  BARMECIDE 
FEAST 42 

CONCLUSION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  THE  HUNCHBACK 45 


Chapter  II 


STORY  OF  PRINCE  CAMARALZAMAN  AND  THE  PRINCESS 
BADOURA 

THE  FAIRY  MAIMOUNA  AND  THE  AFRITE  DAH- 
NASH 48 

MARZAVAN 63 

THE  LOST  TALISMAN 73 

v 


vi  Contents 

»AG» 

THE  EBONY  ISLES 76 

THE  OLIVE  JARS 80 

STORY  OF  THE  TWO  PRINCES,  AMGIAD  AND  ASSAD    89 

THE  CITY  OF  THE  MAGIANS 97 

HISTORY  OF  THE  QUEEN  MARGIANA 102 

CONCLUSION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  PRINCE  CAMARALZAMAN 

AND  THE  PRINCESS  BADOURA 109 

Chapter  III 

STORY  OF  JOUDAR 

THE  TWO  SONS  OF  THE  RED  KING  OF  THE  GENII. .  114 

THE  HIDDEN  TREASURE  OF  SHAMARDAL 125 

THE  ENCHANTED  SADDLE-BAGS 134 

THE  GENIE  OF  THE  SEAL-RING 139 

Chapter  IV 

STORY  OF  MAHOMED  ALI  THE  JEWELLER,  OR  THE  FALSE 
CALIPH 

THE  ROYAL  BARK 149 

HISTORY  OF  THE  LADY  DUNYA 157 

CONCLUSION  OF  THE    STORY  OF   MAHOMED   ALI   THE 

JEWELLER,  OR  THE  FALSE  CALIPH 161 

Chapter  V 

STORY  OF  ALI  OF  CAIRO 

THE  MONEY-SPENDER 163 

THE  TREASURE  GENII 167 


Contents  vii 

PAGE 

Chapter  VI 

STORY  OF  ABOU  MAHOMED  THE  LAZY 

THE  CROWN  OF  JEWELS 175 

THE  MARID-APE 179 

Chapter  VII 

STORY  OF  ABDALLAH  OF  THE  LAND  AND  ABDALLAH  OF 
THE  SEA 

THE  SEA-JEWELS 192 

THE  SEA-CITIES 202 

Chapter  VIII 

STORY  OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AND  THE  FAIRY  PERIEBANOU 

THE  PRINCESS  NOURONNIHAR  AND  THE  THREE 
RARITIES 208 

THE  FAIRY  PALACE 220 

THE  MAGIC  PAVILION,  THE  FOUNTAIN  OF  LIONS, 
AND  SCHAIBAR  THE  DWARF 226 

Chapter  IX 

STORY  OF  THE  PRINCESS  PERIEZADE  AND  THE  SPEAKING 
BIRD,  THE  SINGING  TREE,  AND  THE  GOLDEN 
WATER 

THE  THREE  WISHES 248 

THE  MOUNTAIN  OF  THE  BLACK  STONES 254 

THE  CUCUMBER  STUFFED  WITH  PEARLS 265 


Illustrations 


THE  SLAVES  AND  SERVANTS  WERE  ALL  MARIDS  OF  THE 

GENII Frontispiece 

PAGE 
THE  HUNCHBACK  WALKED  ALONG  SINGING  MERRILY. .      5 

SHE  WORE  A  MAGNIFICENT  NECKLACE  OF  JEWELS 27 

"  I  AM  HE  WHOM  PEOPLE  CALL  EL  SAMIT  THE  SILENT! ". . .     33 

CAMARALZAMAN  WOKE,  AND  TO  HIS  AMAZEMENT  FOUND 
A  MOST  BEAUTIFUL  DAMSEL 57 

LO,  A  BIRD  POUNCED  UPON  THE  TALISMAN 74 

LO,  THE  WATER  VANISHED  AND  THEY  SAW  A  GOLDEN 
DOOR 131 

"WHOSOEVER  EMBARKETH  IN  A  VESSEL  UPON  THE  RIVER 
TIGRIS,  I  WILL  STRIKE  OFF  HIS  HEAD!" 150 

EVERY  DAY  THE  APE  RETURNED  BRINGING  A  THOUSAND 
PIECES  OF  GOLD 183 

ABDALLAH  SAW  IN  THE  NET,  A  CREATURE  SHAPED  LIKE 
A  HUMAN  BEING,  BUT  HAVING  A  TAIL 195 

"I  AM  THE  FAIRY  PERIEBANOU,  THE  DAUGHTER  OF  ONE 
OF  THE  MOST  POWERFUL  KINGS  OF  THE  GENII" 222 

"BIRD,"  SAID  THE  PRINCESS  PERIEZADE,  "THOU  ART  MY 
SLAVE!" 263 


Chapter  I 


STORY  OF  THE  HUNCHBACK 

IN  ancient  days  there  lived  in  Balsora  a  tailor  who 
had  considerable  wealth,  and  who  loved  jokes  and 
merriment.  One  evening  he  saw  a  hunchbacked 
man  walking  along  the  street,  singing  and  re- 
citing verses.  The  tailor  called  to  him,  and  in- 
vited him  to  eat  supper.  1  he  Hunchback  accepted 
the  invitation,  and  entering  the  house,  sat  down, 
while  the  tailor  went  out  to  buy  food  for  the  feast. 
He  purchased  some  fried  fish,  and  limes,  and  sweet- 
meats, and  returned  to  his  home. 

He  placed  the  fish  before  the  Hunchback,  and  they 
sat  down  to  eat.  Now  the  tailor's  wife  was  in  a  merry 
mood,  and  she  took  a  large  piece  of  fish  and  crammed 
it  into  the  Hunchback's  mouth,  saying:  "Don't  chew 
this,  but  swallow  it  at  once."  The  Hunchback  was 
forced  to  swallow  it  whole,  and  a  large  and  sharp  bone 
stuck  in  his  throat,  and  he  immediately  choked  and 
fell  down  dead. 

"Alas!"  exclaimed  the  tailor,  "this  poor  fellow  hath 
died  in  our  house,  and  what  shall  we  do?"  "Why 
sittest  thou  idle?"  asked  his  wife.  "Arise  and  take  him 
in  thy  arms,  and  cover  him  with  a  silken  cloth.  I  will 
go  first  and  do  thou  follow  and  we  will  carry  him  to  a 

i 


2;%: .,    ;  Stbfcy;  x>f  the   Hunchback 

physician  and  ask  for  some  medicine."  The  tailor  did 
as  he  was  told;  he  arose,  took  the  Hunchback  in  his 
arms,  covered  him  over,  and,  his  wife  accompanying 
him,  went  forth  into  the  street.  Every  one  who  saw 
them  thought:  "There  go  tender  parents  conveying  a 
sick  child  to  the  physician."  They  proceeded  thus 
until  they  came  to  the  house  of  a  physician  who  was  a 
Jew. 

They  knocked  at  the  door,  and  a  slave-girl  opened 
to  them.  When  she  saw  a  man  carrying,  as  she  thought, 
a  sick  child,  she  hastened  to  call  her  master.  While 
she  was  gone  the  tailor's  wife  entered  the  vestibule, 
and  said  to  her  husband:  "Leave  the  Hunchback  here, 
and  let  us  hurry  away."  So  he  set  the  body  up  against 
the  wall  and  hastened  away  with  his  wife. 

The  slave-girl,  meanwhile,  had  found  her  master  and 
said  to  him:  "There  is  a  sick  person  downstairs  waiting 
for  medicine."  So  the  Jewish  physician  arose  in  haste 
and  went  down  in  the  dark,  and  in  so  doing  his  foot 
struck  the  lifeless  Hunchback  who  fell  headlong;  and 
when  the  physician  examined  him  in  the  light,  he  was 
dead.  "Alas !  alas ! "  cried  he, •'," Lhave  stumbled  against 
this  sick  person,  and  he  hath  fallen  down  and  died! 
What  shall  I  do  with  his  body,  for  if  it  be  found  in  my 
house  they  will  hang  me?"  He  then  raised  the  Hunch- 
back in  his  arms  and  going  to  his  wife,  told  her  of  the 
accident. 

"Why  sittest  thou  idle?"  said  she,  "for  if  this  body 
be  found  here  at  daybreak  our  lives  will  be  lost.  Come, 
let  thee  and  me  take  him  up  to  the  roof  and  throw  him 
into  the  court  of  our  neighbour  the  Mohammetan, 
the  steward  of  the  Sultan's  kitchen.  Perchance  the 
dogs  and  cats  that  come  down  from  the  terraces  to 


Story   of  the    Hunchback  3 

steal  food  from  his  larder,  may  eat  this  Hunchback 
up."  So  the  Jewish  physician  and  his  wife  carried  the 
body  upstairs  to  the  roof,  and  let  it  down  into  the  court 
of  their  neighbour's  house,  and  placed  it  against  the 
wall,  which  having  done,  they  descended. 

The  Hunchback  had  not  been  there  long,  when  the 
steward  of  the  Sultan's  kitchen  returned  to  his  house, 
and  opening  the  door,  saw  a  man  standing  there. 
"What  is  this?"  exclaimed  he.  "Verily  this  man  is  a 
thief  who  has  come  to  steal  my  goods  and  to  eat  the 
flesh  and  grease  which  I  keep  concealed  from  the  dogs 
and  cats!"  And  so  saying  he  picked  up  a  mallet  and 
struck  the  Hunchback  with  it.  Then  drawing  closer 
he  gave  him  a  second  blow  on  his  chest.  The  Hunch- 
back immediately  fell  headlong,  and  when  the  steward 
looked  at  him  he  found  him  dead. 

"Alas!"  exclaimed  he.  "Curse  upon  the  flesh  and 
grease,  and  on  this  night!  Verily  I  have  killed  this 
man!"  and  so  saying  he  lifted  the  body  of  the  Hunch- 
back upon  his  shoulders,  and  going  forth  into  the  street, 
went  to  the  market-place,  and  stood  the  body  on  its 
feet  by  the  side  of  a  shop,  and  retired. 

Soon  after  this,  there  came  a  Christian  merchant, 
who  was  intoxicated.  He  advanced  staggering  until 
he  came  near  the  Hunchback.  Now,  early  in  the  even- 
ing some  vagabonds  had  snatched  off  the  merchant's 
turban,  and  when  he  saw  the  body  standing  by  the 
shop-door  he  thought  it  a  robber  waiting  for  him.  So 
he  clenched  his  fists,  and  struck  him  on  the  neck.  Down 
fell  the  Hunchback  headlong,  and  the  merchant  con- 
tinued to  beat  him,  calling  out  all  the  time  for  the  night 
watchman.  He  came  running,  and  when  he  saw  a 
Christian  beating  a  Mohammetan,  he  called  out  in 


4  Story   of  the   Hunchback 

anger:  "Arise  this  minute,  and  stop  striking  that  man." 
So  the  merchant  arose,  and  the  watchman  finding  the 
Hunchback  dead,  exclaimed:  "How  darest  thou  a 
Christian,  kill  a  Mohammetan?"  Then  he  seized  the 
merchant,  bound  his  hands  behind  his  back,  and  took 
him  and  the  Hunchback  to  the  house  of  the  chief  magis- 
trate. There  the  merchant  passed  the  night. 

The  next  day  at  noon,  the  chief  magistrate  ordered 
the  executioner  to  proclaim  the  Christian's  crime,  and 
to  set  up  the  gallows.  The  executioner  did  so;  and, 
placing  the  Christian  merchant  beneath  the  gallows, 
threw  a  rope  over  his  head,  and  was  about  to  hang  him, 
when  the  Sultan's  steward  pushed  through  the  crowd, 
and,  seeing  the  Christian  standing  beneath  the  gallows, 
cried  out  to  the  executioner:  "Do  not  hang  him,  for 
it  was  I  who  killed  the  Hunchback."  "Wherefore 
didst  thou  kill  him?'*  asked  the  chief  magistrate.  "I 
went  into  my  house  last  night, "  answered  the  steward, 
"and  when  I  saw  that  he  had  descended  the  terrace 
and  stolen  my  goods,  I  struck  him  with  a  mallet  so 
that  he  died.  I  then  conveyed  his  body  to  the  market- 
place and  set  it  up  near  a  shop.  So  thou  seest  that  it 
was  I  who  killed  him;  therefore  hang  none  but  me." 

When  the  chief  magistrate  heard  this  he  liberated 
the  Christian  and. said  to  the  executioner:  "Hang  this 
man."  The  executioner  took  the  rope  off  the  neck  of 
the  merchant,  and  put  it  around  the  neck  of  the  stew- 
ard, and,  having  placed  him  beneath  the  gallows,  was 
about  to  hang  him  when  the  Jewish  physician  pushed 
through  the  crowd,  and  cried:  "Do  not  hang  him,  for 
it  was  I  who  killed  the  Hunchback."  "Wherefore 
didst  thou  kill  him?"  asked  the  chief  magistrate. 
"He  came  to  my  house  for  medicine,"  answered  the 


THE  HUNCHBACK  WALKED  ALONG  SINGING  MERRILY 


Story   of  the   Hunchback  5 

Jewish  physician,  "and  as  I  descended  the  stairs 
I  struck  him  with  my  foot  and  he  fell  down  and 
died." 

Then  the  chief  magistrate  gave  orders  to  liberate 
the  Sultan's  steward,  and  said:  "Hang  this  man." 
The  executioner  took  off  the  rope  from  the  neck  of  the 
steward,  and  placed  it  around  the  neck  of  the  Jewish 
physician,  and  was  about  to  hang  him  when  theut$ik>r 
pushed  through  the  crowd  and  cried:  "Do  not  hang 
him,  for  none  killed  the  Hunchback  but  I.  Last  night 
I  saw  the  little  man  walking  along  the  street  singing 
merrily.  I  asked  him  into  my  house,  and  placed  food 
before  him.  Then  my  wife  took  a  morsel  of  fish  and 
crammed  it  into  his  mouth  so  that  he  was  choked  and 
died  instantly.  After  that  my  wife  and  I  took  him  to 
the  house  of  the  Jewish  physician,  and  while  the  slave- 
girl  went  to  call  her  master,  I  set  the  Hunchback  by 
the  stairs,  and  went  away  with  my  wife.  When  the 
physician  came  down  he  stumbled  against  him  and 
thought  that  he  had  killed  him.  Therefore  liberate 
the  Jewish  physician  and  hang  me." 

When  the  chief  magistrate  heard  this  he  was  aston- 
ished and  said:  "Verily  this  should  be  recorded  in 
books!"  Then  he  said  to  the  executioner:  "Liberate 
the  Jewish  physician  and  hang  this  man."  So  the 
executioner  took  the  rope  off  the  neck  of  the  physician 
and  placed  it  around  the  neck  of  the  tailor  muttering 
to  himself:  "Why  dost  thou  say  each  time,  'Liberate 
this  one,  and  hang  that  one?'  Am  I  not  to  hang  at 
least  one?" 

Now  the  Hunchback  was  the  royal  buffoon,  and  when 
the  Sultan  his  master  found  that  he  had  been  absent 
many  hours,  he  sent  to  inquire  about  him.  "O  our 


6  Story   of  the   Hunchback 

lord,"  answered  one  of  the  attendants,  "last  night  he 
was  found  dead  in  the  market-place.  The  chief  magis- 
trate hath  given  orders  to  hang  the  man  who  killed 
him,  but  there  hath  come  a  second  and  a  third  man  each 
saying:  'None  killed  him  but  I."  When  the  Sultan 
heard  this  he  marvelled,  and,  calling  his  chamberlain, 
said:  "Go  down  to  the  magistrate  and  bid  him  bring 
all  the  murderers  hither  before  me." 

So  the  chamberlain  hastened  and  went  down  and 
found  that  the  executioner  had  almost  put  to  death 
the  tailor.  He  called  out:  "Stop  hanging  that  man! 
The  Sultan  commandeth  that  all  shall  be  brought  be- 
fore him."  The  chief  magistrate  then  took  the  Hunch- 
back, and  the  tailor,  and  the  Jewish  physician,  and  the 
Christian  merchant,  and  the  Sultan's  steward,  and 
went  up  with  them  to  the  Sultan.  He  came  into  the 
royal  presence  and  kissed  the  ground  and  related  all 
that  had  occurred. 

And  the  Sultan  was  astonished  and  filled  with  mirth 
at  hearing  the  tale;  and  he  commanded  that  it  should 
be  written  in  letters  of  gold.  Then  said  he  to  those 
present:  "Have  any  of  you  ever  heard  the  like  of  the 
story  of  the  Hunchback?" 

Upon  this  the  Christian  merchant  advanced  and 
said:  "O  King  of  the  age,  if  thou  wilt  permit  me,  I 
will  relate  to  thee  an  event  that  happened  to  me,  more 
wonderful  and  strange  and  exciting  than  the  story  of 
the  Hunchback."  "Tell  us  then  thy  story,"  said  the 
Sultan.  And  the  Christian  related  as  follows: 


The   Left   Hand 


STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  CHRISTIAN  MER-^ 
CHANT— THE  LEFT  HAND 

(NOW,  O  King  of  the  age,  that  I  came  to  this 
country  with  merchandise,  and  Destiny  hath 
decreed  that  I  shall  reside  amongst  thy  people. 

I  was  born  in  Cairo  and  there  I  was  brought 
up.  My  father  was  a  wealthy  merchant,  and, 
when  I  had  reached  the  age  of  manhood,  he 
died  and  I  succeeded  to'his  business.  One  day  as  I  was 
sitting  in  my  shop,  lo,  a  handsome  young  man  came  to 
me,  riding  on  an  ass.  He  saluted  me,  thereupon  I 
arose  to  do  him  honour.  He  showed  me  a  handkerchief 
filled  with  sesame,  and  said:  "What  is  the  value  of  five 
bushels  of  this?"  I  answered,  "A  hundred  pieces  of  sil- 
ver." Then  said  he:  "Take  porters  and  measures,  and 
repair  to  the  Khan  of  Jawali,  near  the  Gate  of  Victory, 
there  wilt  thou  find  me."  And  he  left  and  went  his  way. 
So  I  took  with  me  four  porters,  and  went  immediately 
to  the  Khan.  I  found  the  young  man  awaiting  me 
there.  He  arose  and  opened  a  storeroom  filled  with 
sesame,  and  we  measured  its  contents,  and  the  whole 
amounted  to  just  two  hundred  and  fifty  bushels. 
Then  said  the  young  man:  "For  every  five  bushels 
thou  shalt  sell  for  me,  I  will  give  thee  a  commission  of 
ten  pieces  of  silver.  Thus  the  entire  price  thou  shalt 
receive  for  the  sesame,  is  five  thousand  pieces  of  silver, 
and  thy  share  is  five  hundred.  Do  thou,  however, 
keep  all  the  money  in  thy  possession,  and  when  I  have 
sold  the  goods  in  my  other  storerooms,  I  will  come  to 
thee  and  receive  my  share  of  the  silver." 


8  Story   of  the   Hunchback 

"  It  shall  be  as  thou  desirest,"  I  replied,  and  I  kissed 
his  hand  and  left  him.  I  sold  all  the  sesame,  and  at  the 
end  of  a  month  the  young  man  came  to  my  shop  and 
said:  "Where  is  my  money?"  "Here  it  is,"  I  an- 
swered. "Then  keep  it,"  said  he,  "until  I  come  to  re- 
ceive it  of  thee,"  and  saying  this  he  departed. 

And  he  was  absent  another  month,  then  he  came 
again  and  said:  "Where  is  my  money?"  Whereupon 
I  arose  and  saluted  him  and  asked:  "Wilt  thou  not 
dismount  and  enter  and  eat  with  me?"  "Nay,"  he 
replied,  "keep  thou  the  money  until  I  return  to  receive 
it."  He  then  departed  as  before. 

Now  at  the  end  of  another  month  he  came  again, 
this  time  attired  in  the  most  magnificent  garments,  and 
his  face  as  beautiful  as  the  full  moon.  When  I  beheld 
him  I  hastened  to  his  side  and  kissed  his  hand,  saying: 
"O  my  master,  wilt  thou  not  take  thy  money,  now?" 
But  he  answered:  "Have  patience  with  me  until  I  have 
sold  all  the  goods  in  my  storerooms,"  and  having  said 
this  he  departed.  Then  said  I  to  myself:  "Verily 
when  he  cometh  again  I  will  force  him  to  become  my 
guest,  for  through  his  means  great  wealth  hath  come 
to  me." 

At  the  close  of  the  year,  the  young  man  returned  in 
richer  dress  than  any  he  had  worn  formerly,  and  I 
pressed  him  to  alight  and  become  my  guest.  "I  will 
do  so,"  replied  he,  "if  thou  wilt  promise  not  to  expend 
any  of  my  money  which  is  in  thy  possession."  "Be 
it  as  thou  desirest,"  said  I,  "only  descend  and  enter 
my  shop."  He  did  so,  and  seated  himself;  while  I 
placed  before  him  delicious  meats,  and  sherbets  and 
other  delicacies,  saying:  "In  the  name  of  Allah!" 

He  drew  near  to  the  table,  and  putting  forth  his  left 


The   Left   Hand  9 

hand,  ate  with  it.  I  was  surprised  at  that,  and  when 
we  had  finished  and  had  begun  to  converse,  I  said: 
"O  my  master,  wherefore  dost  thou  eat  with  thy  left 
hand?  Doth  thy  right  hand  pain  thee?"  On  hearing 
these  words,  the  young  man  stretched  forth  his  right 
arm  from  his  sleeve,  and  behold  it  was  an  arm  without 
a  hand!  And  I  wondered  at  this,  but  he  said:  "Wonder 
not  at  seeing  me  eat  with  my  left  hand,  but  rather 
wonder  at  the  cause  of  the  cutting  off  of  my  right 
hand."  "And,  what,"  said  I,  "O  my  master,  was  the 
cause  of  this?  "  He  answered  thus : 

Know  that  I  am  from  Bagdad.  My  father  was  one 
of  the  chief  men  of  that  city.  When  I  attained  the  age 
of  manhood,  he  died  leaving  me  his  property.  Then  I 
took  costly  stuffs  and  precious  goods  and  having 
packed  them,  left  Bagdad,  and  Allah  decreed  me  safety 
until  I  reached  this  thy  city. 

Having  entered  Cairo,  I  deposited  my  goods  in 
storerooms,  and  passed  the  night  at  the  Khan  of  Mes- 
rour.  In  the  morning  I  opened  a  bale  of  costly  stuffs, 
and  making  my  servants  carry  the  goods,  proceeded 
to  the  market-streets.  Havings-arrived  there,  some 
merchants  who  heard  of  my  coming,  took  my  goods 
and  cried  them  for  sale.  I  left  my  property  with  them, 
and  returned  to  the  Khan  where  I  spent  my  days  in 
feasting  and  merriment  until  the  month  came  in  which 
I  was  to  receive  the  money  from  the  sales  of  my  goods. 
The  time  arriving,  I  presented  myself  in  the  market- 
streets,  and  received  the  money  due  me  from  the  mer- 
chants. 

Thus  I  continued  to  live  until  one  day,  having  drunk 
a  cup  of  wine,  eaten  a  fowl,  and  perfumed  myself  with 
essence,  I  repaired  to  the  shop  of  a  merchant,  named 


io        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

Bedreddin  the  Gardener.  While  we  conversed  to- 
gether, lo,  a  damsel  entered  and  seated  herself  at  my 
side.  The  odours  of  exquisite  perfume  exhaled  from 
her  garments,  and  when  she  raised  her  veil,  I  no  sooner 
saw  her  black  eyes,  than  I  was  captivated  by  her  beauty 
and  loveliness.  She  saluted  Bedreddin,  and  when  I 
heard  the  softness  of  her  speech,  love  for  the  damsel 
took  entire  possession  of  my  heart. 

"Hast  thou,  O  merchant,"  said  she  to  Bedreddin, 
"a  piece  of  stuff  woven  with  threads  of  pure  gold?" 
He  showed  her  a  piece.  "May  I  take  it  home  with  me," 
said  she,  "and  send  thee  its  price  later?"  "O  my  mis- 
tress," answered  Bedreddin,  "that  is  not  possible,  for 
here  is  the  owner  of  the  goods,  and  I  must  pay  him  a 
portion  of  the  profits."  The  damsel  hearing  this  took 
the  stuff  and  threw  it  at  the  merchant  exclaiming: 
"Woe  to  thee,  thou  rude  and  ungrateful  man!  Verily 
thou  knowest  that  it  is  my  custom  to  buy  costly  goods 
of  thee,  and  to  send  the  price  later!"  and  having  done 
this,  she  arose  in  anger  and  turned  away. 

I  felt  as  if  my  soul  went  with  her,  and  arising  to  my 
feet,  "O  my  mistress,"  I  said,  "kindly  bestow  one 
glance  upon  me,  and  return."  At  this  she  smiled,  and 
I,  taking  the  stuff  from  the  hands  of  Bedreddin,  gave 
it  to  her  saying:  "Let  this  cloth-of-gold  be  thine,  and 
another  like  it,  only  do  thou  permit  me  to  see  thy  face." 
Thereupon  she  raised  her  veil,  and  when  I  beheld  the 
beauty  of  her  countenance,  the  sight  drew  from  me  a 
thousand  sighs.  She  then  lowered  her  veil  again,  and 
taking  the  piece  of  stuff,  said:  "O  my  master,  farewell. 
Do  not  leave  me  forever  desolate!"  She  then  departed 
and  I  continued  to  sit  in  the  market-street,  overpowered 
by  love.  I  asked  Bedreddin  concerning  the  damsel. 


The   Left   Hand  n 

"She  is  a  rich  lady,"  he  replied,  "the  daughter  of  a 
great  Emir  who  hath  left  her  much  property." 

I  returned  to  the  Khan,  and  supper  was  placed  be- 
fore me,  but  thinking  on  her,  I  could  eat  nothing.  I 
laid  myself  down  to  rest,  but  sleep  came  not  and  I  re- 
mained awake  until  morning.  Then  I  arose,  clothed 
myself,  ate  a  few  morsels  for  my  breakfast,  and  has- 
tened to  the  shop  of  Bedreddin  the  Gardener.  I  saluted 
him  and  sat  down,  but  scarcely  had  I  done  so  when  the 
damsel  arrived  accompanied  by  a  slave-girl.  She 
seated  lierself  beside  me,  and  addressed  me,  not  Bed- 
reddin. The  softness  and  the  sweetness  of  her  voice 
filled  me  with  rapture.  "O  my  master,"  said  she, 
"receive  now  twelve  hundred  pieces  of  silver,  the  price 
of  thy  goods."  "Why  this  haste?"  I  said,  but  she 
answered  me  nothing  and,  handing  me  the  price  of  the 
stuff,  arose  and  departed. 

I  followed  her  steps  through  the  market-streets 
when  suddenly,  lo,  her  slave-girl  stood  before  me  and 
said:  "Answer  thou  the  summons  of  my  mistress." 
Greatly  wondering  at  this  I  hastened  to  accompany  her, 
and  she  led  me  to  the  shop  of  a  money-changer.  There 
I  beheld  the  damsel  awaiting,  who  had  drawn  from  me 
my  soul!  She  called  me  aside  and  said:  "Verily,  O  my 
master,  thou  hast  stolen  my  heart,  I  have  neither  slept 
nor  eaten  since  I  first  saw  thee!"  "O  my  beloved," 
answered  I,  "the  rapture  that  I  feel  cannot  be  ex- 
pressed. When  may  I  visit  thee,  and  when  may  our 
marriage  be  contracted?"  "Our  marriage,"  she  an- 
swered, "must  be  secret,  therefore  let  nothing  be  done 
until  to-morrow  evening.  Then  mount  thine  ass,  and 
come  to  me  at  the  House  called  the  Magnificent  of 
Barakat  the  Chief,  for  there  do  I  reside."  On  hearing 


12         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

this  I  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and,  having  saluted  each 
other  tenderly,  we  parted,  I  returning  to  the  Khan  in 
which  I  lodged. 

The  next  evening,  I  changed  my  clothes,  and,  having 
perfumed  myself  with  sweet  scents,  took  fifty  pieces  of 
gold  and  tied  them  in  a  silk  handkerchief.  I  then 
mounted  an  ass,  and  said  to  his  owner:  "Take  me 
instantly  to  the  House  called  the  Magnificent  of  Bara- 
kat  the  Chief."  In  less  than  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
he  set  off  and  soon  we  arrived  at  an  elegant  mansion 
the  like  of  which  I  had  never  seen  before.  I  dismounted, 
and  handing  the  owner  of  the  ass  a  quarter  of  a  piece 
of  gold,  said:  "To-morrow  morning  return  and  convey 
me  back  to  the  Khan  of  Mesrour."  "In  the  name  of 
Allah,"  he  replied,  and  took  the  gold  and  departed. 

Immediately  I  knocked  on  the  door,  and  it  was 
opened  by  two  damsels  as  beautiful  as  the  waving 
palm.  "Enter,"  said  they,  "for  our  mistress  is  expect- 
ing thee."  I  followed  them  into  an  upper  saloon  with 
seven  doors.  Around  the  room  were  windows  looking 
into  a  garden  in  which  grew  flowers  and  fruits  of  every 
description,  and  where  there  were  fountains  and  trees 
full  of  singing  birds.  The  roof  of  the  saloon  was  orna- 
mented with  gilding  and  blue,  and  surrounded  by 
inscriptions  in  letters  of  gold.  The  floor  was  of  varie- 
gated marbles,  on  which  were  spread  costly  carpets  of 
coloured  silks.  In  the  centre  of  the  apartment  was  a 
fountain,  at  each  corner  of  which  was  a  snake  of  gold 
casting  forth  water  from  its  mouth,  like  pearls  and 
jewels.  The  saloon  was  furnished  with  embroidered 
cushions  of  all  colours  and  with  silken  couches. 

Scarcely  had  I  looked  about  me  when  the  damsel 
whom  I  loved  approached.  She  was  clad  in  rich  gar- 


The   Left   Hand  13 

ments,  and  wore  upon  her  head  a  crown  set  with  pearls 
and  jewels,  and  her  bosom  was  ornamented  with  gold. 
As  soon  as  she  saw  me,  she  smiled,  and  leading  the  way 
to  the  side  of  the  fountain  seated  herself  beside  me 
upon  some  cushions.  Immediately  slave-girls  entered 
and  placed  before  us  a  most  delicious  repast,  after 
which  they  brought  the  basin  and  ewer,  and  we  washed 
our  hands  and  perfumed  ourselves  with  rose-water 
infused  with  musk.  Then  was  the  marriage  contract 
signed,  and  we  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  with 
song,  music  and  merriment.  When  morning  came  I 
threw  in  my  wife's  lap  the  handkerchief  containing  the 
fifty  pieces  of  gold,  mounted  my  ass  and  returned  to 
the  Khan  where  I  lodged. 

I  occupied  myself  with  business  until  sunset,  when 
I  took  fifty  pieces  of  gold,  tied  them  as  before  in  a  silken 
handkerchief,  and  hastened  to  the  House  called  the 
Magnificent  of  Barakat  the  Chief.  I  found  all  set  in 
order  for  a  feast.  The  vessels  of  brass  and  copper  had 
been  polished,  the  candles  were  lighted,  and  a  delicious 
repast  was  set  by  the  side  of  the  fountain.  When  my 
wife  saw  me  she  greeted  me  tenderly,  and  seated  me 
beside  her  upon  the  embroidered  cushions.  We  then 
proceeded  to  eat  and  make  merry  until  midnight  when 
we  slept.  The  next  morning,  as  before,  I  handed  her 
the  fifty  pieces  of  gold,  and  departed  to  my  Khan. 

Thus  I  continued  doing  for  some  time,  until  I  awoke 
one  morning  and  found  that  I  no  longer  possessed  a 
piece  of  silver  or  a  piece  of  gold.  I  walked  forth  into 
the  streets  with  a  troubled  heart.  When  I  reached  the 
Gate  of  Zawili  I  found  a  number  of  people  crowding 
together,  and  as  I  pushed  my  way  through  the  throng, 
I  pressed  against  a  trooper  and  my  hand  accidentally 


14        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

touched  a  purse  in  his  pocket.  I  caught  hold  of  the 
purse  and  drew  it  gently  forth.  But  the  trooper  felt 
his  pocket  lightened,  and  putting  his  hand  in  found 
nothing.  He  immediately  raised  his  mace  and  struck 
me  on  the  head  so  that  I  fell  to  the  ground.  Then  he 
seized  me,  crying  out:  "Thief,  thief!" 

As  Destiny  would  have  it  at  this  moment  the  judge, 
together  with  other  magistrates,  entered  the  gate,  and 
he  called  to  the  trooper  to  bring  me  before  him.  The 
trooper  did  so,  and  said:  "I  had  in  my  pocket  a  blue 
purse  containing  twenty  pieces  of  gold,  and  this  young 
man  took  it  while  we  were  in  the  crowd."  The  judge 
then  commanded  that  I  should  be  searched.  His  serv- 
ants threw  me  down  and  stripped  me  and  found  the 
purse  in  my  clothes.  "O  young  man,"  said  the  judge, 
"didst  thou  steal  this?"  I  raised  my  head  and  an- 
swered: "Yes,  I  took  it."  He  then  ordered  the  execu- 
tioner to  cut  off  my  right  hand  and  then  to  kill  me. 
He  therefore  amputated  my  hand.  But  the  heart  of 
the  trooper  was  moved  with  compassion  and  he  begged 
that  I  should  not  be  killed,  so  the  judge  permitted  me 
to  depart.  The  trooper  gave  me  the  purse  saying: 
"Thou  art  a  comely  young  man!  It  is  not  fitting  that 
thou  shouldst  be  a  thief." 

I  then  went  my  way  with  the  stump  of  my  right  arm 
hidden  in  my  bosom.  I  walked  to  the  House  called 
the  Magnificent,  and  entering  the  saloon  threw  myself 
on  a  couch.  When  my  wife  saw  my  face  pale  from 
suffering  she  questioned  me  tenderly,  saying:  "O  my 
Beloved,  what  hath  happened  to  thee  this  day?  Where- 
fore do  I  see  thee  anxious  and  broken-hearted?"  But 
I  answered:  "Question  me  not,  I  am  not  well." 
Whereat  she  wept,  and  rising  placed  some  food  before 


The   Left   Hand  15 

me,  and  handed  me  a  cup  of  wine  to  drink.  I  put 
forth  my  left  hand,  and  taking  the  cup  drank  and 
returned  it  to  her  again.  "O  my  Beloved,"  said  she, 
"why  dost  thou  take  the  cup  with  thy  left  hand?  "  I  an- 
swered: "At  a  fitting  time  will  I  tell  thee  my  story." 

My  wife  sat  beside  me  until  I  fell  asleep.  She  then 
gently  drew  forth  my  right  arm  from  my  bosom,  and 
behold  it  was  an  arm  without  a  hand!  Searching 
further  she  found  the  purse  of  gold.  Terrible  grief 
overcame  her  at  this  sight,  and  she  wept  so  loudly  that 
I  awoke,  and  endeavoured  to  comfort  her.  But  she 
arose  and  prepared  a  ragout  of  chicken,  and  pressed 
me  to  eat  and  drink.  I  did  so  and  having  finished  I 
handed  the  purse  to  her  and  was  about  to  depart. 
"Whither  wouldst  thou  go?  O  my  Beloved,"  said  she, 
"wherefore  wouldst  thou  leave  me?  Hath  thy  love  of 
me  become  so  great,  that  thou  hast  spent  all  thy  wealth 
upon  me,  and  lost  thy  hand?  Allah  be  my  witness  that 
I  will  never  desert  thee!  Thou  shalt  now  see  the  truth 
of  my  words!" 

Having  spoken  thus  she  immediately  called  witnesses 
and  said:  "Know  that  this  young  man  is  my  husband, 
and  that  all  the  property  in  this  chest  belongeth  to 
him."  Then  the  witnesses  departed  and  my  wife 
opened  a  chest  which  stood  in  a  corner,  and  behold  it 
was  filled  with  the  handkerchiefs  which  I  had  given 
her,  each  of  which  was  full  of  the  gold  pieces.  "See," 
said  she,  "all  this  is  thine.  Thou  hast  sacrificed  thy 
wealth  and  thy  hand  through  love  of  me.  Verily,  if  I 
gave  my  life  it  would  be  but  a  small  return  for  all  thy 
suffering!"  Then  she  arose  and  wrote  a  deed  of  gift 
transferring  to  me  her  apparel  and  her  ornaments  of 
gold  and  jewels,  and  her  houses,  and  her  other  posses- 


1 6        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

sions.  After  which  she  passed  the  night  in  lamenta- 
tions. 

Thus  we  remained  for  less  than  a  month,  when  my 
wife  sickened  and  died  of  pure  grief  on  my  account. 
So  I  prepared  her  funeral  and  buried  her,  and  mourned 
her  loss.  Afterward  I  examined  her  possessions  and 
found  that  she  had  left  abundant  wealth  and  many 
storerooms  of  goods  and  stuffs,  among  them  the  store- 
rooms of  sesame.  Now,  since  I  have  eaten  thy  food, 
I  beg  of  thee  to  keep  the  whole  price  which  thou  didst 
receive  for  the  sesame. — This  which  I  have  told  thee 
is  the  cause  of  my  eating  with  my  left  hand. 

Then  said  the  young  man:  "Wilt  thou  journey  with 
me  to  Bagdad  for  I  am  taking  thither  goods  from  Cairo 
and  Alexandria?"  I  answered:  "Yes."  So  I  sold  all 
that  I  possessed,  and  bought  merchandise  and  the 
following  month  we  travelled  to  Bagdad,  where  the 
young  man  sold  all  his  stuff  and  bought  other  in  its 
stead,  and  returned  to  Egypt.  But  it  was  my  lot  to 
remain  in  this  thy  country. — Now  is  not  this,  O  King 
of  the  age,  more  wonderful  than  the  story  of  the  Hunch- 
back? 

The  Sultan  replied:  "Ye  must  be  hanged  all  of  you!" 
And  on  this  the  steward  advanced  and  said:  "If  thou 
wilt  permit  me,  I  will  relate  to  thee  a  story  that  I  hap- 
pened to  hear  just  before  I  met  this  Hunchback;  and 
if  it  be  more  wonderful  than  what  befell  him,  wilt  thou 
grant  us  our  lives?"  The  Sultan  answered:  "Tell  thy 
story," — and  he  began  thus: 


The  Chest  of  the  Lady  Zobeide    17 

STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  SULTAN'S  STEW- 
ARD—THE  CHEST  OF  THE  LADY 
ZOBEIDE 

AST  night  I  was  with  a  company  that  celebrated 
a  recitation  of  the  Koran.  After  the  recitation 
was  over,  the  servants  spread  a  repast,  and 
among  the  numerous  dishes  was  a  platter  of  zir- 
baja, — composed  of  various  meats,  sweetened 
with  sugar  and  perfumed  with  rose-water  in- 
fused with  musk.  All  of  the  company  partook  of  this 
dish  excepting  one  young  man  who  drew  back  saying: 
"Press  me  not  to  taste  this,  for  I  have  already  suf- 
fered much  on  account  of  having  eaten  a  zirbaja." 

After  we  had  all  finished  our  repast,  we  said  to  the 
young  man:  "Tell  us  why  thou  wilt  not  eat  of  this 
dish."  He  replied:  "I  cannot  eat  thereof  unless  I  first 
wash  my  hands  forty  times  with  kali,  forty  times  with 
cyperus,  and  forty  times  with  soap, — altogether  one- 
hundred  and  twenty  times."  The  master  of  the  house, 
on  hearing  this,  ordered  his  servants  to  bring  a  ewer  and 
basin,  and  other  necessary  things,  so  that  the  young 
man  might  wash  his  hands  the  required  number  of 
times. 

The  young  man  did  so,  and  then  advanced  with  dis- 
gust and,  stretching  forth  his  hand  as  is  the  custom, 
thrust  it  into  the  dish  of  zirbaja  and  began  to  eat.  We 
then  saw  that  his  thumb  was  cut  off  and  he  ate  with 
four  fingers.  "We  conjure  thee,  by  Allah,"  we  ex- 
claimed, "to  tell  us  what  accident  hath  happened  to 
thy  thumb."  "O  my  brothers,"  he  answered,  "not 


1 8         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

only  have  I  lost  my  right  thumb,  but  my  left  thumb 
also,  and  both  of  my  great  toes  besides."  And  he  un- 
covered the  stump  of  the  thumb  on  his  other  hand,  and 
showed  us  both  his  feet  from  which  the  great  toes  had 
been  cut  off.  At  this  sight  our  amazement  increased 
and  we  said:  "Tell  us,  we  beg,  the  cause  of  the  loss  of 
thy  thumbs  and  great  toes,  and  the  reason  of  thy  wash- 
ing thy  hands  one-hundred  and  twenty  times."  And 
he  said: 

Know,  O  company,  that  my  father  was  a  great  mer- 
chant living  in  the  city  of  Bagdad,  in  the  time  of  the 
Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid.  He  was,  unfortunately, 
addicted  to  the  drinking  of  much  wine,  and  he 
squandered  his  wealth  and  died  leaving  very  little. 
I  buried  him,  and  after  mourning  days  and  nights,  I 
opened  his  shop  and  found  that  he  had  left  little  goods 
and  many  debts.  I  induced  his  creditors  to  wait,  and 
betook  myself  to  buying  and  selling,  from  week  to 
week.  Thus  I  continued  to  do  for  some  time,  until  I 
had  not  only  discharged  my  father's  debts,  but  had 
increased  my  own  capital  considerably. 

One  day  as  I  sat  in  my  shop  I  beheld  a  beautiful 
damsel  approach  me  riding  on  a  mule,  and  accompanied 
by  a  eunuch,  while  a  slave  walked  behind  her  and  one 
before  her.  She  stopped  at  my  door,  while  the  eunuch 
said:  "  O  my  Mistress,  enter  here,  but  do  not  tell  anyone 
who  thou  art,  lest  trouble  come  upon  us."  The  eunuch 
then  further  cautioned  her,  and  she,  dismounting,  came 
toward  me,  and  saluted  me.  Her  speech  was  charm- 
ing and  her  words  sweet,  and  when  she  drew  aside  her 
veil  I  gazed  on  a  face  of  perfect  loveliness.  "O  youth," 
said  she,  "hast  thou  any  handsome  stuffs?"  "O  my 
mistress,"  I  replied,  "thy  slave  is  a  poor  man,  but  wait 


The  Chest  of  the  Lady  Zobeide    19 

until  the  other  merchants  open  their  shops  and  I  will 
fetch  thee  all  the  rich  stuffs  thou  desirest."  So  I  con- 
versed with  her  until  the  other  merchants  came,  then 
I  arose  and  procured  for  her  rich  brocades  the  price  of 
which  was  five  thousand  pieces  of  silver.  She  took 
the  goods,  handed  them  to  the  eunuch,  and  mount- 
ing her  mule,  rode  away  without  paying  me.  Con- 
sequently I  incurred  a  debt  of  five  thousand  pieces  of 
silver. 

I  returned  home  overcome  with  love  for  the  damsel, 
and  could  neither  eat  nor  sleep.  Thus  I  remained  for  a 
week.  The  merchants  demanded  their  money,  but  I 
persuaded  them  to  wait  another  week.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  the  damsel  came  again  riding  on  the  mule, 
and  attended  by  the  eunuch  and  two  slaves.  Having 
saluted  me,  she  said:  "O  my  master,  we  have  been 
tardy  about  paying  thee  for  the  brocade.  Receive 
now  the  price  of  the  goods,  and  procure  for  me  rich 
stuffs  worth  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold."  I  did  so,  and 
she  took  the  goods  and  departed  a  second  time  with- 
out paying  me.  "What  kind  of  love  is  this?"  said  I 
to  myself.  "She  hath  brought  me  five  thousand  pieces 
of  silver,  but  hath  carried  away  goods  worth  a  thousand 
pieces  of  gold!  Surely  she  is  a  cheat  who  hath  imposed 
on  me  by  her  youth  and  beauty."  ^ 

I  remained  in  a  state  of  great  perplexity  for  more 
than  a  month.  Meanwhile  the  merchants  demanded 
their  money,  and  pressed  me  so  hard  that  I  was  forced 
to  offer  all  my  goods  for  sale,  and  was  on  the  brink  of 
ruin.  One  day  while  I  was  sitting  in  my  shop,  reflect- 
ing upon  my  sad  condition,  I  beheld  the  damsel  ad- 
vance toward  me.  "Bring  thy  scales,"  said  she,  "and 
weigh  thy  money,"  and  she  gave  me  the  price  of  the 


2o        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

stuffs  and  also  a  commission,  and  I  almost  died  for  joy. 
She  then  said:  "Hast  thou  a  wife?"  "No,"  I  answered. 
At  this  she  arose  and  departed. 

I  went  to  the  merchants  and  paid  them  their  money, 
and  spent  the  rest  of  the  time  bewailing  the  absence 
of  the  damsel.  A  few  days  after  this,  behold  the  eunuch 
who  had  accompanied  the  damsel  approached  my  shop. 
"O  my  master,"  said  he,  "The  Unknown  One  to  whom 
thou  soldest  the  brocade  hath  seen  thy  love  and  she 
returneth  it.  She  is  the  favourite  slave  of  the  Lady 
Zobeide,  the  wife  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid. 
The  damsel  hath  told  her  mistress  of  thee,  and  begged 
that  she  would  marry  her  to  thee,  but  the  Lady  Zobeide 
saith  that  she  will  not  do  so  unless  she  see  thee  first. 
We  therefore  wish  to  take  thee  secretly  into  the  palace 
that  the  marriage  may  be  contracted  there."  "Good," 
answered  I.  "Let  the  matter  be  as  thou  sayest,  I  will 
go  with  thee."  "When  the  night  is  come,"  continued 
the  eunuch,  "go  thou  to  the  mosque  which  the  Lady 
Zobeide  hath  built  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Tigris, 
and  pass  the  night  there,"  so  saying  he  departed. 

Accordingly  when  the  darkness  fell,  I  went  to  the 
mosque,  and  having  said  my  prayers,  passed  the  night. 
When  morning  dawned  I  looked  out  on  the  River  Tigris 
and  saw  two  eunuchs  approaching  in  a  small  boat  con- 
taining some  empty  chests.  They  disembarked,  and 
brought  the  chests  into  the  mosque.  Immediately  after 
the  beautiful  damsel  herself  appeared  and  as  soon  as  we 
had  saluted  one  another,  she  placed  me  in  one  of  the 
chests  and  locked  it.  The  slaves  filled  the  others  with 
rich  stuffs  and  brocades,  and,  locking  them  securely, 
conveyed  all,  including  the  one  in  which  I  was,  to  the 
boat.  The  damsel  and  the  eunuchs  then  embarked 


The  Chest  of  the  Lady  Zobeide   2  i 

and,  plying  the  oars,  hastened  to  reach  the  palace  of 
the  Lady  Zobeide. 

When  they  arrived  at  the  water-gate  of  the  Caliph, 
they  landed  and  taking  out  the  chests  were  conveying 
them  into  the  palace,  when  the  chief  of  the  doorkeepers 
called  out:  "Set  down  the  chests  and  open  them  that 
we  may  see  what  is  within."  He  then  arose  and  placed 
his  hand  upon  the  one  in  which  I  was  hidden.  My 
reason  abandoned  me,  my  heart  almost  burst,  and  my 
limbs  trembled. 

But  the  damsel  said:  "These  chests  belong  to  the 
Lady  Zobeide,  and  if  thou  open  them  she  will  be  angry 
and  we  shall  all  perish.  They  contain  clothes  dyed 
various  colours,  except  this  chest,  in  which  is  a  pri- 
vate thing  belonging  to  my  mistress.  If  thou  open  it, 
may  the  fault  be  upon  thy  head."  When  the  chief 
of  the  doorkeepers  heard  this  he  said:  "Take  up  the 
chest,  then  and  pass  on."  But  at  just  that  moment  a 
slave  came  crying :  "The  Caliph !  The  Caliph ! " 

I  lost  my  reason  through  fear  and  almost  died.  The 
Caliph  called  out:  "Bring  hither  those  chests,  and  open 
them."  But  the  damsel  answered:  "O  my  lord,  they 
contain  clothes  of  the  Lady  Zobeide,  all  except  this 
one  which  is  a  private  chest  of  my  mistress."  "Open 
them,"  said  the  Caliph,  "so  that  I  may  see  the  clothes." 
The  damsel  could  not  disobey  his  orders,  so  she  caused 
each  chest  to  be  brought,  one  by  one,  and  the  Caliph 
examined  the  contents.  When  they  brought  forward 
the  chest  in  which  I  was,  I  bade  adieu  to  life,  and  pre- 
pared for  death.  The  eunuchs  were  about  to  open  it, 
when  the  damsel  said:  "O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  this 
chest  containeth  a  private  thing  not  fitting  to  be  dis- 
played before  thy  servants,  therefore  it  is  proper  that 


22         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

the  chest  should  be  opened  in  the  apartment  of  the 
Lady  Zobeide." 

The  Caliph  hearing  this  ordered  the  eunuchs  to  carry 
the  chests  into  the  palace,  and  they  immediately  took 
them  up  and  passed  on.  They  conveyed  me  into  an 
inner  apartment  and  the  damsel  came  and  opening  the 
chest  said  to  me:  "Come  forth,  and  go  with  me  to  kiss 
the  ground  before  my  mistress." 

I  accompanied  her  to  a  sumptuous  saloon  where  I 
saw  twenty  other  damsels,  each  as  beautiful  as  the  full 
moon,  and  among  them  was  the  Lady  Zobeide.  She 
was  scarcely  able  to  walk  because  of  the  weight  of  her 
rich  garments  and  precious  ornaments  of  gold  and 
jewels.  She  approached  me,  and  I  advanced  and  kissed 
the  ground  before  her.  She  made  me  a  sign  to  sit  down, 
and  thereupon  began  to  ask  me  many  questions  con- 
cerning my  parents  and  my  business.  Then  she  ordered 
me  to  retire  to  an  apartment  and  there  to  remain  wait- 
ing for  ten  days  while  she  prepared  the  marriage  feast. 

Therefore  during  that  period  I  remained  concealed 
in  the  palace,  being  attended  by  the  royal  slaves,  and 
eating  and  drinking  what  they  set  before  me.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  the  Lady  Zobeide  asked  permission 
of  her  husband  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  to  marry  her 
favourite  to  the  young  man  of  her  choice.  The  Caliph 
granted  her  request,  and  ordered  that  the  bride  should 
receive  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 

The  Lady  Zobeide  sent  for  the  Cadi  and  witnesses 
and  they  married  me  to  the  damsel.  The  other  damsels 
prepared  a  feast  of  delicious  viands  and  drinks,  and  we 
passed  some  time  in  merriment.  Thus  we  continued 
rejoicing  for  ten  days,  at  the  end  of  which  period  they 
brought  me  a  dish  of  zirbaja,  sweetened  with  sugar 


The  Chest  of  the  Lady  Zobeide   23 

and  perfumed  with  rose-water  infused  with  musk.  I 
instantly  put  forth  my  hand  and  thrust  it  into  the 
dish  and  began  to  eat.  As  soon  as  I  was  through  I 
wiped  my  hand  and  forgot  to  wash  it.  When  it  was 
dark  the  slaves  lighted  the  candles,  and  the  singing- 
girls  came  with  their  tambourines,  and  the  twenty 
damsels  brought  me  my  wife  clad  in  the  most  magnifi- 
cent garments.  I  threw  my  arms  about  her  neck,  and 
she,  noticing  the  odour  of  the  zirbaja,  knew  that  I  had 
not  washed  my  hands.  She  uttered  a  loud  cry,  and 
immediately  slaves  came  running  from  every  quarter. 

"Take  away,"  she  ordered,  "this  madman  who  hath 
eaten  of  the  zirbaja  and  hath  not  washed  his  hands. 
Punish  him  for  his  disgusting  conduct."  And  so  saying 
she  took  a  whip  from  her  belt  and  beat  me  on  the  back 
until  I  became  almost  insensible.  Then  she  said  to 
the  slaves:  "Take  him  to  the  judge  and  tell  him  to  cut 
off  the  hand  with  which  he  ate."  On  hearing  this  I  ex- 
claimed: "There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  Allah! 
Wouldst  thou  cut  off  my  hand  for  so  slight  an  offense!" 

Then  the  other  damsels  entreated  her  saying:  "O 
our  sister,  be  not  angry  with  him !  Have  pity  on  him ! " 
But  she  replied:  "Verily  I  must  punish  him  in  some 
way."  She  then  commanded  the  slaves  to  bind  my 
hands  behind  my  back,  and  taking  a  sharp  razor,  she 
cut  off  both  my  thumbs  and  both  my  great  toes, 
as  ye  see,  O  company;  and  I  swooned  away.  After 
which  she  exacted  an  oath  of  me  that  I  would  not  eat 
of  a  zirbaja  as  long  as  I  lived  unless  I  first  washed 
my  hands  forty  times  with  kali,  forty  times  with  cyp- 
erus  and  forty  times  with  soap. 

Then  she  was  appeased  and  giving  me  fifty  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  bade  me  go  forth  and  buy  for  us  a  hand- 


24        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

some  house,  magnificently  furnished.  I  did  so,  and 
she  removed  thither  all  her  riches,  her  dresses,  her 
ornaments  and  other  rarities. — This  then  was  the  cause 
of  the  cutting  off  of  my  thumbs  and  great  toes,  and 
the  reason  of  my  washing  my  hands  one-hundred  and 
twenty  times. 

"So  we  ate,"  said  the  Sultan's  steward,  "and  de- 
parted to  our  homes,  after  that  I  met  the  Hunchback. 
This  is  all  of  my  story  and  peace  be  on  thee." 

"This  is  not  more  wonderful,"  said  the  Sultan,  "than 
the  story  of  the  Hunchback,  so  ye  must  be  hanged,  all 
of  you."  At  this  the  Jewish  physician  advanced  and 
having  kissed  the  ground,  said:  "O  King  of  the  age, 
I  will  now  relate  to  thee  a  more  wonderful  story  than 
that  of  the  Hunchback."  "Relate  thy  story,"  an- 
swered the  Sultan,  and  the  physician  commenced  thus: 


STORY   TOLD    BY   THE    JEWISH    PHYSI- 
CIAN—THE NECKLACE  OF  JEWELS 

HE  most  wonderful  thing  that  happened  to  me 
in  my  younger  days  was  this.  I  was  residing 
in  Damascus,  where  I  practiced  my  art,  when 
one  day  a  messenger  came  and  escorted  me  to 
the  Governor's  abode. 

^^  H  I  entered  an  upper  saloon  where  a  man  re- 
clined upon  a  couch  of  alabaster  overlaid  with  pure  gold. 
He  was  young  and  handsome.  Seating  myself  by  his 
side,  I  said  a  prayer  for  his  restoration,  and  requested 
him  to  put  forth  his  hand.  He  then  stretched  out  his  left 
hand,  at  this  I  was  astonished,  but  felt  his  pulse  with- 
out speaking  of  the  matter.  I  continued  to  attend  him 


The   Necklace  of  Jewels         25 

for  ten  days,  at  the  end  of  which  time  I  took  him  to  the 
bath.  When  he  removed  his  garments  I  saw  that  his 
right  hand  had  been  cruelly  amputated.  I  was  full 
of  grief  at  this  sight,  and  on  looking  at  his  skin  saw 
marks  of  violent  beating  with  whips.  The  young  man 
then  turned  toward  me  and  said:  "O  Doctor  of  the 
age,  wonder  not  at  what  thou  seest;  when  we  have 
gone  forth  from  the  bath  then  will  I  relate  to  thee  my 
story." 

We  returned  to  the  upper  saloon,  and  the  servants 
placed  before  us  a  repast  consisting  of  a  roast  lamb  and 
fruits  of  different  kinds,  and  after  we  had  eaten  the 
young  man  began  thus: 

Know,  O  Doctor  of  the  age,  I  am  of  the  children  of 
Mosul,  and  that  I  grew  up  among  my  nine  uncles,  none 
of  whom  were  blessed  with  children.  When  I  had  at- 
tained the  age  of  manhood  I  went  one  day  with  my 
father  to  the  mosque,  and  after  the  prayers  had  been 
performed,  my  father  and  uncles  joined  a  party  of 
travellers  who  sat  discussing  the  wonders  of  the  various 
countries  they  had  seen.  Then  one  of  my  uncles  said: 
"There  is  not  on  the  face  of  the  earth  so  delightful  a 
land  as  Egypt  with  its  Nile,"  and  my  father  added: 
"He  who  hath  not  seen  Cairo  hath  not  seen  the  world! 
Its  soil  is  gold;  its  Nile,  a  wonder;  its  women  as  beauti- 
ful as  the  black-eyed  houris  of  Paradise;  its  houses, 
palaces;  its  gardens,  dreams  of  delight;  its  airs,  caressing 
and  laden  with  the  odour  of  aloes- wood." 

When  I  heard  this  I  was  filled  with  an  exceeding 
great  desire  to  see  the  land  of  Egypt.  I  passed  the 
night  sleepless,  and  neither  food  nor  drink  was  pleas- 
ant to  me.  A  few  days  after  this  my  uncles  prepared 
to  journey  to  Egypt,  and  I  wept  and  entreated  my 


26         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

father  that  I  might  accompany  them.  He  consented 
and  prepared  a  stock  of  merchandise  for  me,  and 
as  I  was  departing  said  to  my  uncles:  "Suffer  not 
my  son  to  enter  Cairo,  but  leave  him  to  trade  in 
Damascus." 

I  took  leave  of  my  father,  and  we  journeyed  to  Da- 
mascus, which  we  found  to  be  a  city  of  trees  and  rivers 
and  fruits  and  birds,  and  as  delightful  as  a  paradise. 
My  uncles  left  me  there,  and  continued  their  journey 
to  Egypt,  and  I  took  up  my  abode  in  a  handsome  house 
the  monthly  rental  of  which  was  two  pieces  of  gold. 
Here  I  lived  in  splendour,  eating  and  drinking  and 
squandering  my  substance. 

One  day  as  I  was  sitting  at  my  door,  a  beautiful 
damsel  approached  me,  attired  in  the  richest  of  gar- 
ments. I  invited  her  to  come  in  and  she  entered  my 
house  without  hesitation,  and,  removing  her  veil, 
showed  me  a  face  of  most  exquisite  loveliness.  I 
placed  before  her  a  repast  consisting  of  delicate  viands 
and  fruits;  we  ate  and  drank  and  sang,  and  then  giv- 
ing me  ten  pieces  of  gold  she  departed,  saying:  "After 
three  days,  at  the  hour  of  sunset,  I  will  be  with  thee. 
So  provide  for  us  a  delightful  repast."  After  three  days 
she  came  again  attired  in  embroidered  robes  the  like 
of  which  I  had  never  seen.  I  made  ready  the  feast 
and  we  passed  the  evening  in  merriment  as  before. 
When  she  rose  to  go  she  said:  "When  next  I  come  I 
will  bring  with  me  a  damsel  more  beautiful  than  I," 
so  saying  she  threw  me  a  purse  containing  twenty 
pieces  of  gold  and  departed. 

Accordingly  the  next  night  she  came  accompanied 
by  another  damsel  wrapped  closely  in  a  veil.  They 
entered  and  seated  themselves,  and  I  rejoicing  lighted 


SHE  WORE  A  MAGNIFICENT  NECKLACE  OF  JEWELS 


The   Necklace   of  Jewels         27 

the  candles  and  prepared  the  feast.  They  then  took 
off  their  veils,  and,  lo,  the  second  damsel  was  as  beauti- 
ful as  the  full  moon,  I  never  before  saw  such  loveliness, 
and  she  wore  about  her  neck  a  magnificent  necklace  of 
jewels.  I  arose  immediately  and  placed  food  before 
the  second  damsel,  and  continued  urging  her  to  eat. 
The  first  damsel  seeing  this  was  seized  with  excessive 
jealousy,  and  said:  "Verily  this  girl  is  beautiful,  but 
dost  thou  think  her  more  charming  than  I?"  And  I 
answered:  "Yea,  indeed!" 

Upon  this  the  first  damsel  arose  in  a  jealous  rage 
and  drawing  a  sword  from  her  side  fell  upon  the  second 
damsel  and  cut  off  her  head  so  that  it  rolled  upon  the 
ground.  Then  she  departed,  I  knew  not  whither. 
Seeing  all  this  I  was  filled  with  great  fear,  and  arose  in 
haste,  and,  removing  the  pavement  from  the  floor  of 
the  house,  dug  a  hole  and  placed  the  murdered  damsel 
in  it.  I  replaced  the  stones,  and  dressing  myself  took 
all  my  money  and  went  forth.  I  paid  the  owner  of  the 
house  a  year's  rent.  Then  I  closed  the  house,  and 
journeyed  to  Egypt. 

I  resided  in  Cairo  for  three  years,  eating,  drinking 
and  squandering  my  money  until  scarcely  any  was  left 
me.  Meanwhile  I  sent  every  year  the  rent  of  my  house 
to  the  owner  in  Damascus.  At  last  little  money  re- 
mained except  enough  for  one  year's  rent.  I  therefore 
journeyed  back  to  Damascus,  and  alighted  at  my  house. 
I  entered,  and,  as  I  was  removing  a  cushion,  found  be- 
neath it  the  necklace  of  jewels  that  the  murdered  damsel 
had  worn.  I  examined  it,  wept  a  while,  then  taking 
the  necklace  went  forth  into  the  jewel-market.  I 
placed  it  with  a  broker  who  coveting  it,  caused  me  to 
be  seized,  and  dragged  me  before  the  judge  saying: 


28         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

"This  necklace  was  stolen  from  me  and  I  have  found 
it  on  this  thief." 

The  judge  then  ordered  his  people  to  strip  me,  and 
they  did  so  and  whipped  me  with  whips,  and  cut  off 
my  right  hand,  scalding  the  stump  of  my  arm  with 
boiling  oil.  They  then  gave  me  a  cup  of  wine  to  revive 
me,  and  taking  my  amputated  hand  I  returned  to  my 
abode.  But  the  owner  of  the  house  met  me  and  said: 
"Since  this  disgrace  hath  come  upon  thee  leave  my 
place  and  find  other  lodgings."  "O  my  master,"  said 
I,  "give  me  two  or  three  days  in  which  to  find  a  home." 
He  assented  to  this  and  departed,  while  I  remained 
sitting  alone  weeping,  and  saying:  "How  can  I  return 
to  my  family,  now  that  my  hand  hath  been  cut  off! 
Surely  since  I  am  innocent  of  theft  or  murder  Allah 
will  help  me!" 

Even  as  I  spoke  the  owner  of  the  house  returned  ac- 
companied by  some  officers  of  the  law,  who  seized  me 
and  bound  my  arms  behind  my  back,  and  put  a  chain 
around  my  neck.  "Why  do  ye  treat  me  thus?"  I 
asked.  They  answered:  "Because  the  necklace  thou 
stolest  belongeth  to  the  Governor  of  the  city,  and  it 
hath  been  missing  together  with  his  daughter  for  three 
years."  Hearing  these  words  I  trembled  and  prepared 
to  die. 

When  we  arrived  at  the  Governor's  abode  I  was 
placed  before  him,  and  when  he  looked  on  me  he  said: 
"Is  this  he  who  stole  the  necklace?  Verily  ye  have  cut 
off  his  hand  wrongfully."  Then  he  said  to  the  broker: 
"  Give  this  young  man  sufficient  money  to  recompense 
him  for  the  loss  of  his  hand,  or  else  I  will  hang  thee  and 
seize  all  thy  property."  And  he  gave  orders,  and  his 
attendants  took  the  broker  and  dragged  him  away. 


The   Necklace  of  Jewels         29 

I  was  now  left  alone  with  the  Governor,  and  he 
approached  and  loosed  the  chain  from  my  neck  and 
unbound  my  arms,  saying:  "Tell  me,  O  my  son,  how 
did  this  necklace  come  into  thy  possession;  fear  not 
and  speak  the  truth."  "O  my  lord,"  I  replied,  "I  will 
tell  thee  all  the  truth,"  and  I  proceeded  to  relate  the 
history  of  the  two  damsels.  On  hearing  this  the  Gov- 
ernor covered  his  face  and  wept,  then  looking  toward 
me  said:  "Know,  O  my  son,  that  the  elder  damsel  was 
my  daughter.  One  day  she  went  out  and  took  her 
younger  sister  with  her,  to  whom  she  was  much  at- 
tached. When  she  returned  she  was  alone.  I  ques- 
tioned her  concerning  her  sister  but  she  made  no  reply, 
and  sat  weeping  and  saying:  'Verily  I  will  weep  for 
her  until  I  die!'  At  length  she  confessed  the  murder 
she  had  committed  to  her  mother,  who  privately  re- 
lated the  affair  to  me.  As  for  my  eldest  daughter  she 
sat  weeping  and  lamenting  until  she  sickened  and  died 
of  sorrow  and  grief.  See  then,  O  my  son,  what  hath 
happened!  Now  will  I  recompense  thee  for  the  loss  of 
thy  hand,  and  for  thy  many  sufferings.  I  desire  to  wed 
thee  to  my  youngest  daughter,  and  with  her  I  will  give 
thee  a  rich  allowance,  and  thou  shalt  be  to  me  as  my 
own  son."  I  replied:  "Let  it  be  as  thou  desirest,  O  my 
master." 

The  Governor  immediately  sent  for  the  Cadi  and 
witnesses  and  married  me  to  the  damsel,  whom  I  found 
to  be  beautiful  and  good.  My  father  having  died  dur- 
ing my  absence  messengers  were  sent  to  bring  my  prop- 
erty to  Damascus,  and  I  am  now  living  in  happiness 
and  wealth. 

"I  wondered  at  all  this,"  continued  the  Jewish  physi- 
cian, "and  after  a  few  days  the  young  man  was  com- 


30         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

pletely  recovered,  and  gave  me  a  large  sum  of  money. 
Using  this  I  journeyed  to  your  city,  where  last  night 
I  met  the  Hunchback." 

The  King  when  he  heard  this  said:  "Thy  story  is 
not  more  wonderful  than  that  of  the  Hunchback, 
therefore  ye  must  be  hanged  all  of  you,  especially  this 
tailor  who  hath  caused  all  this  mischief."  Then  turn- 
ing to  the  tailor  he  said:  "O  tailor,  if  thou  wilt  relate 
a  story  more  wonderful  than  that  of  the  Hunchback 
I  will  forgive  thee  all  thine  offences."  So  the  tailor 
advanced  and  said : 


STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  TAILOR—  THE 
YOUNG  MAN  AND  THE  BARBER 

[NOW,  O  King  of  the  age,  that  what  hath  hap- 
pened to  me  is  more  wonderful  than  what  hath 
happened  to  the  others.     Night  before^last  I 
was  at  ar^nt^tainment  jiven  to  carpenters, 
tailors,    linen  drapers,  and   other—tradesmen. 
Toward  morning   a  rej>ast  was  set  before  us, 
and,  lo,  the  master  ^f  the  house  entered  the  room  ac- 
^ajioung  man  _who  though  handsome 


was  lame. 

He  salutedLus,  and  perceiving  a  certain  barber  in 
our  company,  refused  to  sit  down  and  desired  to  depart 
ingtantly.  The  Master  of  the  house  prevented  him, 
and  urged  him  to  seat  himself.  "Verily,  O  my  master," 
said  the  young  man,  "allow  me  to  go  at  once,  for  I 
cannot  remain  in  the  same  room  with  this  barber;  for 
know,  O  company,  a  surprising  adventure  happened  to 
me  with  him  in  Bagdad,  and  he  was  the  cause  of  my 


The  Young  Man  and  the  Barber    3  1 

lameness.  I  have  sworn  that  I  will  not  sit  in  the  room 
where  he  is,  nor  dwell  in  the  town  in  which  he  resides." 
Upon  this  we  said:  "We  entreat  thee  to  relate  thy 
adventure  to  us."  At  this  the  countenance  of  the 
barber  turned  pale,  but  tli/>  yoking 


Know,  O  good  people,  that  my  father  was  onejpf  the 
chieLmsrchants  of  Bagdad,  and  Allah,  whose  name  be 
exalted!  blessed  him  with  no_son  except  myself.  When 
I  had  attained  the  age  of  manhood,  my  father  died 
leaving  me  great  wealth.  I  began  immediately  to 
dress  in  handsome  and  costly  garments,  and  to  feed 
upon  the  most  delicious  meats.  One  day  as  I  was  walk- 
ing through  the  streets  of  Bagdad,  I_hecame  weary  , 
and  seatedjnyself  upon  a  bench  opposite  ja  window  of 
a  certain  house.  Soon  the  window  opesed^and  there 
looked  out  a  damsel  as  beautiful  as  the  full  moon. 
She  watered  some  flowers  beneath  the  window,  looked 
right  and  left,  then  shut  the  window  and  disappeared. 

Love  for  her  took  immediate  possession  oLjny_heajpt, 
and  I  continued  sitting  there  until  sunset  in  a  state  of 
distraction,  when,  lo,  the  Cadi  of  the,  dty_c.ame^  riding 
along  with  slaves  before  him  and  slaves  behind  him. 
He  alighted  and  entered  the  house  from  which  the 
damsel  had  looked  forth.  ThenJ[  knew_that.  he.  must 
be  her  father. 

I  returned  home  sorrowful,  and  lay  down  in  despair 
upon  my  couch,  but  sleep  visited  me  not.  The  next 
morning  an  old  woman  came  to  me,  and  seating  her- 
self at  my  head.a33resse3  me  as  follows:  "Know,  O 
my  son,  that  I  am  acquainted  with  the  cause  of  thy 
grief.  The  damsel  who  looked  out  at-the—  window  is 
the  daughter  of  the  Cadi  of  Bagdad.  She  is  kept  in 
close  confinement,  ancT  tEe  room  in  which  thou  sawest 


32         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

her  is  her  apartment.  Her  father  occupieth  the  saloon 
below  hers,  and  leaveth  her  alone.  Often  do  I  visit  her, 
and  T  will  gain  for  thee  an  interview." 

On  hearing  this  I  arose  restored,  and  the  old  woman 
departed.  The  next  day  she  returned  and  said  to  me: 
"The  damselJWpLeth  me  say  that  she  saw  thee  beneath 
lier  window,  and  would  like  to  make  thine  acquaint- 
ance. She  desireth  that  thou  shouldst  visit  her  at  the 
hour  of  prayer  on  Friday  next,  for  her  father  will  then 
be  at  the  mosque." 

Wfipp  T  hpflrj  t.T\jp  Tnpsfipffp  my  hftP-1*--wj™Vwl-  Fri- 
day arriving  I  dressed  in  magnificent  garments,  per- 
fumed myself  and  sent  for  a  barber  to  shave  my  head, 
saying  to  the  boy:  "Fetcli,mejjba<rber  who  is  not  im- 
pertinent and  who  talketh  little." 

The  boy  went  and  brought  Jthis~sheikh.  He  entered 
my  apartment,  saluted  me  and  said:  "May  Allah 
dispel  thy  grief  and  anxiety,  and  misfortune  and  sor- 
rows!" I  answered:  "May  Allah  accept  thy  prayer." 
He  then  said:  "Be  cheerful,  O  my  master,  dost  thou 
wish  to  be  shaved  or  bled?"  and  he. continued  for  some 
time  to  discourse  in  this  wise.  "Stop,"  said  I,  "this 
senseless  chatter,  and  shave  my  head  immediately." 

But  the  barber  arose  and  drawing  forth  a  handker- 
chief unfoldad-it-  and  took-faom  it  an  astrolabe.  He 
went  to  the  door  and  after  looking  for  some  time  at  the 
sun,  said:  "Know  that  on  this  day,  which  is  the  tenth 
of  the  month  Safar  of  the  year  263  of  the  flight  of  the 
Prophet,  the  ascendant  star  of  which,  according  to 
the  rules  of  astrology,  is  the  planet  Mars,  it  happeneth 
that  the  planet  Mercury  hath  come  in  conjunction 
with  that  other  planet,  and  this  indicateth  that  it  is 
now  a  fortunate  time  to  shave  the  head." 


"I  AM   HE  WHOM  PEOPLE  CALL  EL  SAMIT  THE  SILENT! 


The  Young  Man  and  the  Barber    33 

"Verily,"  exclaimed  I,  "thou  weariest  me  with  thy 
chatter.  The  time  passeth  rapidly,  therefore  arise  and 
shave  my  head  at  once."  "If  thou  but  knew  the  truth 
of  the  case,"  he  answered,  "thou  wouldst  praise,  not 
blame  me;  for  know,  O  my  master,  I  am  he  whom  people 
call  ^j_Samit  The  SileirL  because  of  the  fewness  of  my 
words,"  and  he  continued  talking  in  this  wise  for  some 
time,  until  my  patience  became  exhausted  and  I  said  to 
the  boy:  "GiveJiiisJiarbeoLSQNy^^ 
and  bicLhim  begone." 

"What  is  this  thou  sayest?"  exclaimed  the  barber, 
"know,  O  my  jord,  that  I  will  accept  no  pay._imless  I 
serve  thee.  Know  also  that  thy  father  sent  for  me  one 
blessed  day,  and  when  I  went  to  him,  he  was  surrounded 
by  many  friends,  and  he  said:  *  Bleed  me';  so  I  took 

the  astrolabe,  and "  at  this  I  gave  vent  to  my  rage 

and  would  have  thrust  the  barber  out;  but  he  wetted  my 
head,  and  said:  "I  will  not  be  angry  with  thee,  for  thy 
brain  is  weak  and  thou  art  young.  A  short  time  ago 
I  used  to  carry  thee  upon  my  shoulder  to  school." 

Hearing  this  and  knowing^that  but  a  short  period 
remained  until  the  hour  of  prayer,  I  rent  my  clothes, 
and  fell  inta_a  great  rage.  The  barber,  seeing  this, 
sharpened  his  razor  and  shaved  a  snialLppjrtion  j)f 
my  head,  then  he  paused  and  began  to  recite  some 
verses.  "Hasten!  Hasten!"  I  cried.  He  then  threw 
his  razor  down,  and  taking  the  astrolabe  went_again 
to  observe  the  sun.  After  some  time  he  returned  to 
my  side  and  said:  "There  is  much  time  remaining  be- 
fore the  hour  of  prayer."  "For  pity's  sake  be  silent," 
I  cried,  "and  shave  me." 

He  took  the  razor  and  sharpened  it  again^and  shaved, 
another  portion  of  my  head.    Then  stqpjdng  he  said: 


34        Story  of  the   Hunchback 

"I  am  worried  because  I  do  not  know  the  cause  of  thy 
haste.  Confide  in  me,  for  know  thy  father  never  did 
anything  without  my  advice."  This  impertinence  being 
more  than  I  could  bear,  and  seeing  that  I  could  not  get 
rid  of  him  by  commands,  I  said:  "Be  quick.  Cease  this 
silly  chatter,  and  finish  shaving  me.  Then  I  will- 
present  thee jvithjive  dishes  of  mpats  anH  t^n  cooked 
fowls  and  a^roasted  lamb."  "Let  them  be  brought 
here,"  he  answered,  "so  thajt  I  may  see  them."  Where- 
upon I  gave  orders  and  they  were_brought  in.  "How 
generous  is  thy  soul?"  he  exclaimed,  "but  the  incense 
and  perfumes  are  lacking!"  So  I  caused  my  slaves  to 
bring  him  a  box  pnnt.ftjm'ng  pprfmnpg,  aloes-wood, 
ambergris,  and  musk,  worth  fifty  pieces  of  gold. 

"Take  all  this,"  I  said,  "and  shave  my  whole  head." 
He  replied  not,  but  opening  the  box  examined  its  con- 
tents, turning  over  the  perfumes  and  incense  and  aloes- 
wood,  until  my  soul  almost  quitted  my  body.  Then 
advancing  he  took  the  razor  and  shaved  me  saying: 
"For  thy  father's  sake  there  should  be  no  false  delicacy 
between  us.  Verily  I  will  not  leave  thee  to  go  alone 
on  this  thine  errand."  "The  place  to  which  I  am  go- 
ing," I  replied,  "no  one  can  enter  except  myself." 
"Alas,"  answered  he,  "I  judge  then  that_thou  art 
ahmit  to  yjsit.  spme  Damsel.  This  is  a  dangerous  errand 
and  I  will  go  with  thee  and  assist  thee  to  attain  thy 
desires.  Know,  too,  that  if  thou  be  arrested,  the  Cadi 
of  tKe  city  hath  a  terrible  sharp  sword." 

"Wo  to  thee,  wicked  old  man!"  I  cried,  "How  darest 
thou  address  me  thus!"  and  after  this  the  barber  kept 
silent  for  some  time.  When  he  had  finished  shaving 
me,  I  said:  "Take  this  food  and  enjoy  it  with  thy 
friends."  "Verily,"  said  he,  "I  will  take  it  to  them 


The  Young  Man  and  the  Barber    35 

and  return  immediately  tn  flppnmpany  thp.&--nn—  thin  ft 
errand,"  and  he  departed.  I  then  arose  and  went 
foiih_alQne,  and  walked  until  I  arrived  at  the  house 
where  I  had  seen  the  damsel,  and,  Io3  the  barber  was 
behind  me  and  I  knewJuLnot. 

I  found  the  door  open  and  went  into  the  saloon,  but 
immediately  the  Cadi,  the  father  of  the  damsel,  re- 
tumedJfconL_pJcayers,  and  entering  the  saloon,  closed 
the  door.  I  haying  secreted  imyafilf  beb^H  a. 


Now  it  happened  that  a  slaYe  girl  belonging  to  the 
Cadi  had  committed  some  offence,  so  that-her  maste* 
began  beating  her  jpsdth  a  whip,  and  she  cried  aloud. 
The  'EarBeiTwho  stood  outside  in  the  street  heard  Jher 
cries,  and  thoiightJt  was  I  whom  the  Ca/K  was  heat- 
ing.. He  therefore  rent  his  clothes,  threw  dust  upon 
his  head,  and  shrieked.  Soon  he  was  surroundeoT  by  a 
crowd  of  people,  and  he  called  out:  "My  master  hath 
been  killed  in  the  house  of  the  Cadi  !  O  my  poor  master  !" 
AnoTKef  continued  to  shriek__and  Jthe  people  shouted, 
so  that  the  Cadi,Jiearing  the  disturbance,  came  to  the 
door,  and  was  ^rmfn^nrM  at  seeing  Rf>  jjrgaL  a-  crowd. 
"O  people,"  he  said,  "what  is  it?  "  "Thou  hast  beaten 
my  master  with  whips,"  answered  the  barber,  "and  I 
heard  his  cries."  "What  hath  he  done  that  I  should 
beaLJiim?"  asked  the  Cadi,  "and  whence  came  he, 
and  whither  hathi£_gon.e?" 

"Thou  malevolent  old  man,"  exclaimed  the  barber, 
"I  know  all  about  it!  Thyjjaughter  is  in  love  with 
him,  and  he  with  her:  and  thou  hast  discovered  that 
he  hath  entered  thy  house^and  hast  ordered  thy  young 
men  to  beat  him.  Verily  none  shall  decide  this  matter 
but  the  Caliph  himself!  Haste  therefore  and  bring 


36        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

forth  my  master,  or  I  will  enter  and  take  him  from  thee 
by  force."  The  Cadi  hearing  this  was  embarrassed 
before  all  the  people,  so  he  said:  "  If_thoii_£peakesLihe 
tru<fch,  enter 


As  the  barber  came  into  the  house  I  sought  somejdoor 
of  escape,  but  finding_none^  I  opened  a  chest4hat  stood 
in  the  saloon,  and  getting-into  it»  shut  down  the  lid. 
Immediately  after  the  barber  enteredjhe_apartment, 
and  came  directly  to  the^chest.  He  lifted  the  lid,  and 
seeingjne,  closed  Jtjigain,  and  picking  up-fehe~chest  be- 
gan to  carry  it  away.  And  I,  fearing_lest_hfi  should 
carry  me_th™"gb  the  streets  in  this  ridiculous  fashion, 
op£nedjji££hest  and  threw  mysslf-ottHipoirthe  ground. 
My  leg  was  broken  by  the  fall,  but  I  rose_up_and  going 
to  the  door  found  the  crowd  of  people  waiting  for  me. 

I  scattered  gold  among  them,  to  divert  their  atten- 
tion, and  then  went  as  best  I  could,  through  the 
streets,  the  barber  following  me  and  crying:  "Praise 
be  to  Allah,  who  hath  aided  me  in  rescuing  my  master! 
Without  my  assistance  he  would  have  been  killed!" 
"Art  thou  not  satisfied,"  I  exclaimed,  "at  what  thou 
hast  done  to  me,  but  that  thou  must  run  through  the 
streets  after  me!"  And  having  said  thus,  I  rushed  in 
despair  into  a  shop^  andjbeggedjhe  owner  to  protect  me 
from  this  barber.  He  did  so  and  drove  the  wretch  away. 
"XjTsoon  as  possible  I  returnexLJLo  my  house,  sold  all 
my  goodsHStrtr-my  business  in  order,  and  journeyed  to 
thy^cjty.  I  thus  escaped  this  evil  man,  and  have  lived 
here  in  peace  for  a  considerable  time.  Now  I  find  this 
vile  barber  in  your  company,  seated  among  you,  and 
my  heart  can  no  longer  be  at  ease,  nor  any  company 
pleasant  in  which  he  is  who  hath  wrought  all  this  mis- 
fortune and  been  the  cause  of  my  lameness. 


The   Beheaded   Ten  37 

The  young  man  refused  to  stay  any  longer  with  us, 
and  on  hearing  his  tale  we  said  to  the  barber:  "Is  this 
true?"  "Verily,"  he  answered,  "I  acted  most  gener- 
ously toward  this  young  man,  and  had  I  not  done  so  he 
would  have  perished.  It  was  through  the  goodness  of 
Allah  that  he  broke  his  leg  instead  of  losing  his  life. 
Were  I  a  person  of  many  words  I  had  not  done  this  for 
him,  but  know  that  I  am  he  whom  the  people  call 
El  Samit  The  Silent."  And  now  I  will  relate  to  you  an 
event  which  happened  to  me  so  you  may  know  that  I 
do  not  talk  much,  and  that  I  am  less  impertinent  than 
is  this  young  man  who  hath  abused  me.  The  event  was 
as  follows: 


STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  BARBER— THE  BE- 
HEADED TEN 

WAS  living  in  Bagdad  in  the  reign  of  the  Prince  of 
the  Faithful,  Mountasir  Billah,  who  loved  the  poor 
and  needy,  and  encouraged  the  wise  and  virtuous. 
It  happened  one  day  that  he  was  wroth  with  ten 
citizens  of  Bagdad,  and  he  commanded  the  Cadi 
to  bring  them  to  the  palace  in  a  boat.  I  saw  them 
embark,  and  thinking  that  they  were  a  company  on  a 
pleasure  excursion,  I  also  embarked  with  them,  no  one 
asking  me  any  questions. 

When  we  landed  on  the  opposite  bank  the  guards 
came  and  put  chains  around  the  necks  of  the  ten,  and 
put  one  on  me.  Now  as  I  was  a  man  of  few  words,  I 
decided  not  to  mention  the  matter,  so  I  said  nothing 
and  the  guards  took  us  before  the  Caliph  who  instantly 
gave  orders  to  strike  off  the  heads  of  the  ten. 


38         Story   of  the   Hunchback 

The  executioner  therefore  struck  off  ten  heads,  and 
I  remained.  "What!"  said  the  Caliph,  beholding  me 
with  surprise,  "Hast  thou  not  executed  ten!"  The 
executioner  replied:  "Yea,  verily  I  have  struck  off  the 
heads  of  ten."  "Then,"  said  the  Caliph,  "why  doth 
this  man  remain?"  And  turning  to  me  he  said:  "Who 
art  thou?  And  why  didst  thou  not  tell  us  that  thou 
didst  not  belong  to  these  ten?  Answer!  how  earnest 
thou  among  these  men  of  blood?" 

"O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,"  I  replied.  "Know  that  I 
am  the  sheikh  called  El  Samit  The  Silent,  and  being  a 
man  of  few  words  it  behooved  me  not  to  speak  of  this 
matter.  I  am  very  learned,  I  am  of  grave  understand- 
ing, and  quick  of  comprehension,  and  of  great  scarcity 
of  speech.  My  trade  is  that  of  a  barber,  and  when  I 
saw  these  ten  men  proceeding  to  embark,  I  joined  them 
thinking  they  were  on  a  pleasure  excursion.  But  soon 
it  appeared  that  they  were  criminals,  and  the  guards 
came  and  put  chains  upon  us;  and  from  the  excess  of 
my  wisdom  I  spoke  not.  And  when  thou  gavest  the 
order  to  strike  of  the  heads  of  ten,  I  remained  silent 
before  the  executioner  because  of  my  scarcity  of 
speech.  Throughout  my  life  I  have  acted  in  this  wise 


manner." 


When  the  Caliph  heard  my  story,  and  knew  what  a 
wise  and  silent  man  I  was,  and  that  I  was  not  imperti- 
nent as  is  this  young  man  whom  I  rescued  from  horrors, 
he  said  to  me:  "Hast  thou  any  brothers  like  thyself, 
distinguished  for  silence?"  "O  Prince  of  the  Faithful," 
I  replied,  "it  is  not  proper  that  thou  shouldst  com- 
pare me  with  my  brothers,  for  they  are  great  talkers 
and  are  exceedingly  foolish,  and  each  of  them  hath  a 
defect.  The  first  is  lame;  the  second,  deaf;  the  third, 


The   Tray   of  Glass  39 

blind;  the  fourth,  one-eyed;  the  fifth  hath  cropped  ears; 
and  the  sixth  hath  both  lips  cut  off.  Think  not,  O 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  I  am  like  my  brothers! 
Nay,  to  prove  it  to  thee,  I  will  now  relate  an  adventure 
of  my  fifth  brother.  It  was  this: 


STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  BARBER— THE  TRAY 
OF  GLASS 

<g?9fe»  Y  brother  Alraschar  was  cropped  of  his  ears,  O 
Prince  of  the  Faithful.  He  was  a  pauper,  who 

i  1     begged  alms  by  night  and  lived  on  what  he 

I  ^  I     thus  acquired  by  day.     Our  father  was  a  very 

old  man,  and  he  fell  sick  and  died,  leaving  to 

W     r    us  seven  hundred  pieces  of  silver.     Now  my 

brother  Alraschar,  when  he  had  received  his  share,  went 

out  and  bought  all  kinds  of  glass-ware  which  he  hoped 

to  sell  with  profit.    He  placed  the  glass  on  a  tray,  and 

going  into  the  market-street,  sat  down  on  some  steps 

and  displayed  the  tray  before  him.    He  leaned  his  back 

against  a  wall,  and  lost  himself  in  meditation. 

"Verily,"  thought  he,  "my  whole  stock  doth  consist 
of  this  glass.  I  will  sell  it  for  two-hundred  pieces  of 
silver.  I  will  then  buy  other  glass  and  sell  that  for 
four-hundred  pieces  of  silver.  Thus  I  will  continue 
buying  and  selling  with  profit,  until  I  have  amassed  a 
large  fortune.  Then  I  will  purchase  all  kinds  of  fine 
merchandise,  and  essences  and  perfumes,  and  ornaments 
of  gold  and  jewels,  and  sell  these  and  acquire  much 
gold. 

"After  that  I  will  build  me  a  house,  furnish  it  mag- 
nificently, buy  slaves  and  horses  and  gilded  sad- 


4-O        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

dies,  and  I  will  live  eating  the  choicest  viands.  I  will 
purchase  the  apparel  of  Kings  and  Sultans,  and  cause 
to  be  made  for  me  a  saddle  of  red  gold  set  with  jewels. 
After  which  I  will  ride  through  the  streets  every  day 
with  slaves  behind  and  before  me,  and  the  people  will 
salute  me.  Then  I  will  pay  a  visit  to  the  Grand  Vizier, 
with  memlooks  behind  and  before  me,  and  when  he 
seeth  me  he  will  rise  in  humility  and  seat  me  in  his  own 
place.  Then  I  will  demand  in  marriage  his  daughter; 
for  I  have  heard  that  she  is  endowed  with  perfect  beauty 
and  surprising  loveliness.  I  will  give  as  her  dowry  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold.  My  servant  will  present  the 
gold,  and  when  the  Grand  Vizier  speaketh  to  me,  I  will 
not  answer,  but  treat  him  with  contempt  and  coldness. 
When  he  presenteth  me  with  a  gift,  I  will  return  it  to 
him. 

"  On  my  marriage  night  I  will  attire  myself  magnifi- 
cently, and  sit  upon  a  silken  couch.  When  my  bride  is 
brought  in  to  me  clad  in  her  marriage  robes,  I  will  com- 
mand her  to  stand  before  me.  She  will  do  so  with  head 
hanging  down,  timid  and  abject,  and  I  will  not  look  at 
her.  Then  the  tire- women  will  say:  'O  our  master, 
this  is  thy  wife,  or  rather  thy  handmaiden,  awaiting 
thy  kind  regard.  Graciously  bestow  upon  her  one 
glance.'  Then  I  will  raise  my  head,  and  give  her  one 
glance  and  turn  away.  Her  mother  will  come  to  me 
and  kiss  my  hands,  and  say:  'O  my  master,  my  daugh- 
ter is  young,  and  if  thou  scorn  her,  it  will  break  her 
heart.  Incline  toward  her,  speak  sweetly  and  ease  her 
mind.' 

"Then  I  will  look  at  my  wife  out  of  the  corner  of  my 
eye,  and  command  her  to  remain  standing,  so  that  she 
may  be  properly  humiliated.  Her  mother  will  order 


The   Tray   of  Glass  41 

her  to  fill  a  cup  of  wine  and  hold  it  to  my  lips.  She 
will  fill  the  cup,  and  say:  *O  my  lord,  I  beg  and  entreat 
of  thee  that  thou  reject  not  this  cup,  for  verily  I  am 
thy  slave.'  But  I  will  make  her  no  reply.  Then  she 
will  put  the  cup  to  my  lips,  and  I  will  shake  my  hand 
in  her  face  and  spurn  her  with  my  foot,  like  this — " 

So  saying  my  brother  Alraschar,  kicked  the  tray  of 
glass  that  stood  before  him,  and  it  fell  from  the  steps 
and  all  the  glass  was  broken.  Then  my  brother  cried 
aloud:  "O  woe!  O  woe!  this  is  the  result  of  my  pride," 
and  he  tore  his  garments  and  slapped  his  face;  while 
the  passers-by  looked  at  him  in  wonder. 

Just  then  a  damsel  approached  him,  on  her  way  to 
Friday  prayers.  She  was  of  great  loveliness,  and  the 
odour  of  musk  diffused  from  her.  She  rode  on  a  mule 
having  a  saddle  of  gold-embroidered  silk,  and  with  her 
were  a  number  of  servants.  When  she  saw  the  sad  state 
of  my  brother,  and  his  tears,  she  called  to  one  of  her 
slaves,  saying:  "  Give  this  purse  to  the  poor  man."  The 
slave  did  so,  and  when  my  brother  opened  the  purse  he 
found  it  to  contain  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold;  where- 
upon he  almost  died  from  excessive  joy,  and  offered  up 
prayers  for  his  benefactress.  So  she  departed,  and  my 
brother  returned  to  his  house  a  rich  man. 

And  such,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  was  the  history 
of  my  brother  whose  ears  were  cropped.  I  will  now 
relate  to  you  an  adventure  of  my  sixth  brother.  It 
was  this: 


42         Story   of  the   Hunchback 


STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  BARBER— THE  BAR- 
MECIDE FEAST 

<^Vfe»  Y  brother  Shacabac  had  his  lips  cut  off,  O  Prince 
of  the  Faithful.    He  was  extremely  poor,  pos- 
sessing nothing.     He  went  forth  one  day  to  beg 
111     for  food,  and  on  his  way  beheld  a  handsome 
house  with  a  wide  and  lofty  porch.     At  the 
W     w>    door  stood  many  servants,  and  my  brother  in- 
quired the  name  of  the  owner  of  the  house.    A  servant 
answered:  "He  is  a  son  of  the  Barmecides."     On  this 
my  brother  drew  nearer  and  asked  the  doorkeeper  for 
some    food.     "Enter   here,"   replied   the    doorkeeper, 
"my  master  will  give  thee  all  thou  desirest." 

So  my  brother  entered  and,  passing  through  the 
house,  which  was  spacious  and  magnificently  furnished, 
he  came  at  last  to  a  garden.  It  was  full  of  flowers  of 
all  kinds,  and  was  paved  with  coloured  marbles.  At 
the  upper  end  of  the  garden  he  saw  a  man  with  a  long 
beard  and  handsome  countenance,  who  advanced 
toward  my  brother  and  welcoming  him  said:  "What 
may  I  do  for  thee?  I  am  the  master  of  the  house." 
My  brother  then  told  him  of  his  extreme  need;  and 
hearing  this  the  man  rent  his  clothes,  exclaiming:  "Alas! 
Am  I  in  this  city,  and  thou  also  in  it  and  hungry! 
Verily  I  cannot  endure  such  a  thing!  Thou  must  stay 
and  partake  of  my  supper."  "O  my  master,"  replied 
my  brother,  "I  am  so  extremely  hungry,  that  I  cannot 
wait  long." 

Upon  this  the  master  of  the  house  called  out:  "Boy, 
bring  the  basin  and  ewer."  And  then  he  said,  turn- 


The   Barmecide   Feast  43 

ing  to  my  brother,  "O  my  guest,  advance  and  wash  thy 
hands."  The  master  then  made  the  motions  as  though 
he  were  washing  his  hands  in  a  basin  and  called  an 
attendant  to  bring  a  table  and  spread  the  feast.  Where- 
upon the  slaves  began  to  pass  to  and  fro  as  though  pre- 
paring a  meal,  and  after  that  the  master  of  the  house 
took  my  brother  and  sat  down  with  him  at  an  imagin- 
ary table,  and  proceeded  to  move  his  hands  and  lips  as 
though  he  were  eating. 

My  brother  said  to  himself:  "Surely  this  man  loveth 
a  jest,"  so  he  also  made  the  same  motions  as  his  host, 
who  said:  "Eat,  O  my  guest,  and  observe  how  white 
this  bread  is."  "Verily,"  answered  my  brother,  "in  all 
my  life  I  have  never  seen  bread  more  beautifully  white 
or  of  sweeter  taste."  "It  was  made  by  a  slave-girl  of 
mine,"  answered  the  host,  "whom  I  purchased  for  five 
hundred  pieces  of  gold." 

He  then  called  out:  "Boy,  bring  the  meat,"  and  ad- 
dressing my  brother  said:  "This  meat  is  more  delicious 
than  that  served  at  the  Sultan's  table,  so  eat  freely, 
O  my  guest,  for  thou  art  hungry."  Next  he  called 
out:  "Boy,  bring  the  chickens  stuffed  with  pistachio 
nuts,"  and  said  to  my  brother:  "Eat  this  for  it  is 
more  delicious  than  anything  thou  hast  ever  tasted 
before!" 

My  brother,  whose  hunger  increased  every  moment, 
could  scarcely  restrain  his  impatience,  but  answered: 
"O  my  master,  verily  this  dish  hath  not  its  equal  in 
flavour!"  The  host  then  began  to  feed  my  brother 
imaginary  morsels  of  food,  saying:  "Taste  and  enjoy 
the  flavour.  Eat  and  do  not  be  ashamed."  "I  have 
had  enough  meat,"  answered  my  brother.  Thereupon 
the  host  cried:  "Boy,  bring  sweets  of  every  kind,  dried 


44        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

fruits  and  almonds  and  confections."  Then  he  urged: 
"Eat  more,  eat  more." 

My  brother  by  this  time  had  become  indignant  at 
the  manner  in  which  the  master  of  the  house  made  a 
jest  of  his  hunger,  and  he  said  to  himself:  "Verily  I 
will  cause  him  to  repent  of  mocking  me  after  this  wise!" 
Meanwhile  the  host  shouted:  "Boy,  bring  the  wine," 
after  which  he  pretended  to  fill  a  cup  and  hand  it  to 
my  brother,  saying:  "Take  this  wine,  it  will  refresh  thee 
and  delight  thy  soul."  My  brother  made  the  motion  of 
emptying  the  cup,  and  returned  it  to  the  master  of  the 
house,  who  thereupon  filled  another  cup  and  handed  it 
to  him.  This  he  did  several  times,  until  my  brother 
feigning  drunkenness,  arose  and,  lifting  his  hand,  gave 
the  host  a  ringing  blow  in  the  neck. 

"What  is  this  thou  vile  creature!"  cried  the  host, 
"O  my  master,"  answered  my  brother  humbly,  "I  am 
thy  slave  whom  thou  hast  most  graciously  treated  to 
wine  until  I  have  become  intoxicated,  therefore  I  have 
smitten  thee.  Surely  thou  wilt  not  be  angry  with  me 
seeing  the  cause!" 

At  this  the  master  of  the  house  burst  into  laughter. 
"Verily,"  he  said:  "for  a  long  time  I  have  made  game 
of  men,  but  never  before  have  I  met  any  one  who  was 
clever  enough  to  carry  out  the  jest  with  me,  as  thou 
hast  done.  I  pardon  thee  the  blow,  and  now  thou 
must  partake  of  my  hospitality."  So  he  called  his 
slaves  and  bade  them  prepare  a  feast,  which  they  did; 
and  the  host  taking  my  brother  sat  down  with  him, 
and  they  spent  the  evening  in  eating  and  drinking  and 
making  merry. 

After  that  the  master  of  the  house  gave  "my  brother 
a  costly  dress,  and  made  him  his  own  familiar  friend. 


Conclusion  45 

They  continued  to  dwell  together  for  the  period  of 
twenty  years,  when  the  man  died  and  the  Sultan  seized 
his  property  and  took  possession  of  it. 

"Now,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,"  said  the  barber, 
"I  have  related  to  thee  the  adventures  of  two  of  my 
brothers,  and  thou  must  see  that  I  am  a  better  man 
than  they." 

"Thou  hast  spoken  the  truth,  O  El  Samit  The  Silent," 
said  the  Sultan.  "Thou  verily  art  a  man  of  few  words 
and  devoid  of  impertinence,  but  do  thou  depart  at  once 
from  this  city,  and  take  up  thy  abode  elsewhere."  So 
the  Sultan  banished  me  from  Badgad,  continued  the 
barber,  and  I  came  hither  to  this  city,  where  I  met  this 
young  man  whom  I  aided  in  many  ways,  and  who, 
except  for  me,  would  have  been  slain.  Yet  he  is  so 
ungrateful  that  he  hath  accused  me  of  impertinence, 
talkativeness,  and  stupidity,  —  all  of  which  is  false, 
O  people. 

CONTINUATION     OF     THE     STORY     OF 
THE     HUNCHBACK 


4- 


tailor  then  proceeded  thus,  — 
When  we  heard  the  story  of  the  barber,  we 
were  convinced  that  the  young  man  had  been 
unjustly  treated;  so  we  seized  hold  of  the  barber 
and  bound  him  and  put  him  into  confinement. 
Then  we  went  forth  to  our  homes,  and  I  spent 
the  day  with  my  wife,  and  when  evening  was  come  I 
met  with  the  Hunchback  and  asked  him  to  my  feast. 
And  thou,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  knowest  well  what 
events  have  brought  us  before  thee.  Is  not  this  story 
more  wonderful  than  that  of  the  Hunchback? 


46        Story   of  the   Hunchback 

When  the  Sultan  heard  this  story  he  ordered  his 
chamberlains  to  go  and  fetch  the  barber  that  he  might 
hear  him  talk.  They  soon  returned  and  placed  the 
sheikh  before  the  throne.  He  was  an  old  man  passed 
his  ninetieth  year,  with  dark  complexion  and  a  long 
white  beard,  and  shaggy  eye-brows.  His  ears  were  small 
and  his  nose  long,  and  his  look  haughty.  The  Sultan 
laughed  at  the  sight  of  him  and  said:  "O  Silent  One, 
relate  to  us  some  of  thy  stories." 

"O  King  of  the  age,"  answered  the  barber,  "inform 
me  why  there  are  present  here  this  Christian,  this  Jew, 
this  Mohammetan  and  this  Hunchback.  I  ask  this, 
O  King,  that  thou  mayest  know  that  I  am  not  an  im- 
pertinent fellow,  nor  one  given  to  many  words:  for  I 
am  the  sheikh  called  El  Samit  The  Silent." 

The  Sultan  thereupon  explained  to  him  the  story  of 
the  Hunchback,  and  the  barber  shaking  his  head, 
seated  himself  on  the  floor  and  took  the  head  of  the 
Hunchback  upon  his  lap,  and  looked  into  his  face. 
Then  he  laughed  so  violently  that  he  fell  backward, 
after  which  he  drew  a  pot  of  ointment  from  his  girdle, 
anointed  the  neck  of  the  Hunchback,  and  taking  a  pair 
of  iron  pinchers,  put  them  down  his  throat  and  drew 
forth  the  bone. 

Immediately  the  Hunchback  sprang  to  his  feet, 
sneezed  and  recovered  consciousness.  And  all  those 
who  were  present  were  astonished  at  the  sight,  and  the 
Sultan  laughed  until  he  became  insensible.  He  then 
gave  orders  to  record  this  event  and  to  place  the  account 
in  the  royal  library. 

He  bestowed  dresses  of  honour  upon  the  Jew  and  the 
Christian  and  the  steward.  The  tailor  he  appointed 
his  own  tailor,  giving  him  a  regular  salary.  The  Hunch- 


Conclusion  47 

back  he  honoured  with  a  rich  and  beautiful  dress  and 
a  sum  of  money,  and  appointed  him  his  cup-companion. 
Upon  the  barber  he  also  conferred  favours,  rewarding 
him  with  a  costly  dress,  and  a  fixed  salary,  and  ap- 
pointing him  royal  barber  and  his  own  cup-companion. 
So  they  all  lived  together  in  the  utmost  happiness  until 
they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the 
separator  of  friends. 


Chapter  II 


STORY  OF  PRINCE  CAMARALZAMAN 
AND   THE  PRINCESS  BADOURA 

THE  FAIRY  MAIMOUNA  AND  THE 
AFRITE  DAHNASH 


was  in  ancient  times,  a  Sultan  named 
Shah-Zeman,  possessing  numerous  troops  and 
attendants  and  guards.  He  was  ruler  over  the 
Islands  of  Khaledan  and  had  four  wives  and 
sixty  concubines.  He  had,  however,  no  son 
to  succeed  him  upon  his  throne,  which  caused 
him  great  sorrow.  After  many  years  of  waiting  there 
was  at  last  born  to  him  a  son  beautiful  as  the  full  moon; 
therefore  the  Sultan  named  him  Camaralzaman  which 
signifies  "The  Moon  of  the  Age."  The  inhabitants  of 
Khaledan  rejoiced  at  his  birth,  the  city  was  decorated 
for  seven  days,  the  drums  were  beaten  and  messengers 
were  sent  throughout  the  Islands  to  announce  the  good 
tidings.  The  young  Prince  grew  to  be  the  age  of  fif- 
teen surrounded  by  magnificence  and  tenderly  cared 
for.  He  was  of  such  surpassing  beauty  that  his  father 
could  not  bear  to  be  absent  from  him  for  a  single  hour. 
One  day  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman  summoned  his 
Vizier,  and  said  to  him:  "My  son  Camaralzaman  is 
now  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  I  desire  him  to  marry 


Maimouna  and   Dahnash         49 

during  my  lifetime.  Therefore  bring  him  hither  to  me." 
The  Vizier  said:  "I  hear  and  obey,"  and  immediately 
called  the  Prince,  who  came  and  stood  before  his 
father,  hanging  his  head  in  modesty  toward  the  ground. 
"O  Camaralzaman,"  said  the  Sultan,  "know,  that  I 
desire  to  marry  thee  during  my  lifetime."  But  the 
Prince  raised  his  head  and  replied:  "O  my  father,  I  do 
not  wish  to  marry,  for  I  have  read  in  books  of  the 
cunning  and  wiles  of  women,  and  I  wish  nothing  to  do 
with  them.  Therefore,  O  my  father,  marry  I  never  will 
though  I  be  made  to  drink  the  cup  of  perdition." 
When  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman  heard  these  words,  his 
face  became  black  with  anger,  yet  from  love  he  fore- 
bore  to  reprove  his  son  for  his  disobedience,  but  dis- 
missed him,  and  continued  to  treat  him  with  fondness. 

Camaralzaman  increased  every  day  in  beauty  and 
eloquence.  He  was  sweet  of  speech,  and  his  face  put 
to  shame  the  full  moon.  He  was  tall  in  stature  and  as 
graceful  as  a  twig  of  Oriental  willow,  and  his  manners 
were  engaging.  His  praise  was  sung  on  all  sides,  and 
the  inhabitants  of  Khaledan  were  ravished  by  his 
beauty. 

At  the  end  of  a  year,  the  Sultan  his  father  again 
called  him,  and  said:  "O  my  son,  wilt  thou  not  listen 
to  my  words?"  Hearing  this  Camaralzaman  fell  down 
before  the  throne,  saying:  "O  my  father,  how  should  I 
refuse  to  do  thy  bidding  since  Allah  hath  commanded 
me  to  obey  thee  in  all  things!"  "Know,  then,  O  my 
son,"  replied  the  Sultan,  "that  I  desire  to  marry  thee 
during  my  lifetime,  and  to  make  thee  Sultan  over  my 
dominions  before  my  death."  Then  Camaralzaman 
arose,  and  stood  before  the  throne,  and  hung  down  his 
head;  after  which  he  raised  it  and  answered:  "O  my 


50  Prince   Camaralzaman 

father,  that  is  a  thing  I  will  never  do,  though  I  be  made 
to  drink  the  cup  of  perdition!  I  will  never  marry 
during  the  course  of  my  whole  life;  for  I  have  read  in 
books  that  women  are  full  of  endless  artifices,  and  from 
them  proceed  many  disasters.  How  excellent  is  the 
saying  of  the  poet: 

*  Verily  women  are  treacherous  to  every  one  near  or  distant; 
With  their  fingers  dyed  with  henna,  with  their  hair  arranged 

in  plaits, 
With  their  eyelids  painted  with  kohl;  they  make  one  to  drink 

of  sorrows !'" 

And  when  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman  heard  these  words 
from  his  son  Camaralzaman,  and  understood  the 
verses,  he  returned  no  answer,  but  dismissed  him 
kindly  and  treated  him  with  increased  favours  and 
consideration.  The  Sultan  then  summoned  his  Vizier 
and  conversed  with  him  in  private.  "O  Vizier,"  said 
he,  "tell  me  what  I  shall  do  in  this  affair  of  my  son 
Camaralzaman,  for  thou  seest  that  he  hath  disobeyed 
me,  and  hath  refused  to  marry."  The  Vizier  replied: 
"I  advise  thee,  O  King,  to  have  patience  with  him  for 
another  year;  then  at  the  end  of  that  period  summon 
him  before  thy  throne,  and  question  him  before  all  the 
Viziers,  Emirs  and  chamberlains  and  lieutenants  and 
other  officers  of  the  empire.  He  will  then  be  afraid  to 
oppose  thee,  and  will  marry."  At  these  words,  the 
Sultan  Shah-Zeman  rejoiced  and  bestowed  a  robe  of 
honour  upon  the  Vizier. 

Meanwhile  Prince  Camaralzaman  grew  every  day 
in  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  in  wisdom.  His  cheeks 
were  red,  his  eye-lashes  long,  his  brows  of  dazzling 
whiteness,  and  his  hair  black  as  night.  At  the  end  of 
the  year  the  Sultan  held  his  court,  at  which  were  pres- 


Maimouna.  and   Dahnash         5  i 

ent  the  Emirs,  Viziers,  and  the  lords  and  officers  of  his 
empire,  and  he  sent  for  his  son  Camaralzaman.  The 
youth  came,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the  throne 
three  times,  then  arose  and  stood  before  his  father. 
"Know,  O  my  son,"  said  the  Sultan,  "that  I  have  sum- 
moned thee  before  this  assembly  for  the  purpose  of 
commanding  thee  to  marry."  When  Camaralzaman 
heard  this  he  hung  down  his  head,  then  raising  it  an- 
swered: "Hast  thou  not  twice  before  this  day  asked  me 
to  marry?  and  I  have  said  that  though  I  be  made  to 
drink  the  cup  of  perdition,  yet  will  I  never  do  this 
thing!  Surely  thou  art  a  man  of  great  age  and  little 
sense!"  And  the  Prince  tucked  up  his  sleeves  and 
clenched  his  hands  in  anger. 

Now,  when  his  father  heard  this  he  was  filled  with 
shame  and  indignation  at  his  son  for  treating  him  thus 
in  the  presence  of  the  grandees  of  the  empire.  He  cried 
out  in  anger,  and  calling  his  memlooks  ordered  them 
to  seize  Camaralzaman  and  to  bind  his  hands  behind 
his  back  and  imprison  him  in  one  of  the  towers  of  the 
palace.  This  his  servants  did,  conducting  the  Prince 
to  a  dark  chamber  in  an  abandoned  tower.  They 
loosed  his  hands,  and,  having  placed  in  the  chamber  a 
couch,  a  cushion,  a  mattress  with  a  silken  sheet,  and  a 
candle,  they  stationed  a  eunuch  at  the  door  and  de- 
parted. 

Camaralzaman  then  laid  himself  down  upon  the 
couch  exclaiming:  "Malediction  upon  marriage  and 
girls  and  deceitful  women!  Would  that  I  had  obeyed 
my  father's  command,  for  then  I  should  not  have  been 
put  in  this  tower!"  After  which  he  covered  himself 
with  the  sheet,  placed  the  lighted  candle  at  his  head, 
and  fell  asleep.  As  for  his  father,  the  Sultan  Shah- 


52  Prince   Camaralzaman 

Zeman,  he  slept  that  night  with  a  troubled  heart,  think- 
ing upon  his  son  whom  he  loved  excessively. 

Now  the  chamber  and  the  tower  were  ancient,  and 
had  been  deserted  for  many  years.  In  the  tower  was 
an  old  Roman  well,  at  the  bottom  of  which  lived  a 
daughter  of  the  Genii  called  the  Fairy  Maimouna. 
At  the  middle  hour  of  the  night,  the  Fairy  ascended 
from  the  well  and  perceived  a  light  shining  in  the  tower- 
chamber.  She  approached  the  door  and  found  a 
eunuch  asleep.  She  entered  the  chamber  and  saw  a 
couch  on  which  lay  a  young  man  sleeping  with  a 
lighted  candle  at  his  head.  She  wondered  excessively 
at  this  and  standing  over  the  bed  lifted  the  sheet  and 
gazed  on  Camaralzaman's  face.  It  gleamed  with 
splendour.  His  lashes  were  intensely  black,  his  cheeks 
brilliantly  red,  his  eyebrows  arched,  and  the  odour  of 
fragrant  musk  exhaled  from  his  garments. 

At  the  sight  of  his  beauty  the  Fairy  Maimouna  ex- 
claimed aloud:  "Verily  he  is  a  wonder  of  loveliness! 
I  will  not  injure  him,  nor  suffer  any  one  to  hurt  him! 
How  could  his  family  leave  him  in  this  ruined  tower. 
If  any  of  our  Marids  should  find  him  here  they  would 
utterly  destroy  him!"  She  then  stooped  over  Camaral- 
zaman and  kissed  him  between  the  eyes,  after  which 
she  covered  him  with  the  silken  sheet. 

Having  done  this  she  spread  her  wings  and  soared 
aloft  into  the  heavens.  She  rose  higher  and  higher, 
and  continued  her  flight  through  the  sky  until  she 
heard  the  sound  of  flapping  wings  flying  through  the 
air.  Soon  she  saw  approaching  her  an  Afrite  called 
Dahnash,  and  she  pounced  upon  him  like  a  hawk. 
When  Dahnash  saw  that  his  enemy  was  the  daughter 
of  the  King  of  the  Genii,  the  Fairy  Maimouna,  the 


Maimouna  and   Dahnash         53 

muscles  of  his  side  quivered  from  fear,  and  he  cried 
out:  "I  conjure  thee  by  the  Most  Great  Name  and  by 
the  mystic  talisman  engraved  on  the  seal  of  Solomon, 
that  thou  hurt  me  not." 

"Thou  hast  conjured  me  by  a  mighty  oath,"  replied 
the  Fairy  Maimouna,  "but  I  will  not  let  thee  go  until 
thou  tellest  me  whence  thou  art  now  come."  "O  my 
mistress,"  replied  the  Afrite,  "know  that  I  have  just 
come  from  the  islands  of  the  Land  of  China,  and  I  will 
acquaint  thee  with  a  wonder  I  have  beheld  this  night, 
if  thou  wilt  swear  to  me  that  neither  the  good  Genii 
that  fly  in  the  upper  air,  nor  the  bad  Genii  who  in- 
habit the  lower  regions,  nor  those  that  dive  through 
the  sea  will  be  permitted  to  injure  me  at  any  time  now 
or  forever." 

"And  what  is  it  thou  hast  seen  this  night,  O  Dah- 
nash?" answered  the  Fairy  Maimouna.  "Tell  me  no 
falsehood,  thinking  to  escape  from  me  by  lying;  for  I 
swear  by  the  mysterious  characters  engraved  upon 
the  stone  of  the  seal  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on 
both  of  whom  be  peace!),  that  if  thy  words  be  not  true, 
I  will  pluck  out  thy  feathers  and  tear  thy  skin,  and  break 
thy  bones." 

Then  said  the  Afrite  Dahnash:  "I  came  forth  this 
night  from  the  Islands  of  the  Land  of  China,  which  are 
ruled  over  by  King  Gaiour,  the  monarch  of  the  Isles, 
and  the  Seas,  and  the  Seven  Palaces.  I  saw  there  the 
most  beautiful  Princess  of  her  age.  Her  cheeks  are 
like  deep  red  wine,  or  anemones;  her  lips  resemble 
coral  and  carnelian,  and  her  other  charms  are  too  won- 
derful to  mention.  Her  father  is  the  mighty  King 
Gaiour,  lord  of  the  Isles,  and  the  Seas,  and  the  Seven 
Palaces. 


54  Prince   Camaralzaman 

"He  loved  his  daughter  with  an  exceeding  great  love, 
and  he  collected  magnificent  treasures  for  her  and 
built  her  the  Seven  Palaces.  The  first  palace  was  of 
crystal;  the  second  of  marble;  the  third  of  iron;  the 
fourth  of  onyx;  the  fifth  of  silver;  the  sixth  of  gold; 
the  seventh  of  jewels.  He  filled  the  Seven  Palaces  with 
magnificent  furniture,  precious  stuffs,  vessels  of  gold 
and  silver  and  every  useful  thing  and  many  rarities; 
and  he  commanded  his  daughter  to  reside  in  each  palace 
the  seventh  part  of  a  year.  Her  name  is  the  Prin- 
cess Badoura. 

"Her  beauty  became  celebrated,  and  her  fame  spread 
through  all  countries,  and  many  Kings  demanded  her 
in  marriage,  and  sent  presents  and  rarities  with  letters 
to  her  father.  But  when  he  repeated  the  proposals  to 
the  Princess  Badoura,  she  was  angry  with  him  and 
said:  'If  thou  mention  the  subject  of  marriage  to  me, 
I  will  take  a  sword,  and  put  its  hilt  upon  the  floor,  and 
lean  on  it  until  it  pierce  me  and  I  die!' 

"When  her  father  heard  this  his  heart  was  filled 
with  fear  lest  she  should  kill  herself,  so  he  caused  her 
to  be  conveyed  to  an  apartment,  and  there  confined; 
and  he  commissioned  ten  old  women  to  guard  her,  and 
forbade  her  to  visit  the  Seven  Palaces.  After  which  he 
sent  but  letters  to  all  the  Kings  her  suitors,  informing 
them  that  she  was  afflicted  with  insanity,  and  that  she 
had  been  confined  for  a  year. 

"And,  O  my  mistress,"  continued  the  Afrite  Dah- 
nash,  "I  go  every  night  to  gaze  upon  her  face.  I  kiss 
her  between  the  eyes  while  she  lieth  asleep,  and  for  the 
sake  of  her  wonderful  beauty  I  do  her  no  injury.  I 
conjure  thee,  O  my  mistress,  that  thou  come  with  me 
and  behold  her  loveliness.  Afterward  if  thou  desirest 


Maimouna   and   Dahnash         55 

it  thou  mayest  chastise  me,  for  it  is  thine  to  command 
and  mine  to  obey."  And  the  Afrite  ceased  speaking 
and  hung  down  his  head  and  lowered  his  wings. 

But  the  Fairy  Maimouna  laughed  at  his  words,  and 
spit  in  his  face,  and  said:  "What  is  this  damsel  of 
whom  thou  speakest?  She  is  no  better  than  a  base 
piece  of  broken  pottery!  What  wouldst  thou  say  if 
thou  sawest  my  beloved?  Verily  he  is  a  dream  of 
wonder,  and  hath  experienced  the  same  treatment  as 
hath  thy  beloved.  For  know,  his  father  commanded 
him  many  times  to  marry,  but  he  refused.  And  his 
father,  incensed  against  him  for  his  disobedience,  hath 
imprisoned  him  in  the  tower  in  which  I  reside." 

"O  my  mistress,"  replied  Dahnash,  "show  me  this 
young  man  that  I  may  see  whether  he  be  more  beauti- 
ful than  the  Princess  Badoura;  for  I  do  not  believe 
that  there  existeth  a  person  more  beautiful  than  she." 
"Thou  liest,  thou  accursed  Afrite,"  cried  the  Fairy. 
"O  most  unlucky  of  Marids!  I  know  that  there  doth 
not  exist  the  equal  of  my  beloved!  Verily  I  will  make 
a  wager  with  thee,  that  my  young  Prince  is  more  beauti- 
ful than  thy  Princess.  The  place  in  which  he  sleepeth 
is  beneath  us,  so  descend  with  me  to  see  my  beloved, 
after  that  we  will  repair  to  see  thy  Princess."  And 
Dahnash  replied:  "I  hear  and  obey." 

Then  they  flew  downward  and  alighted  in  the  cham- 
ber of  the  tower.  The  Fairy  Maimouna  raised  the 
silken  sheet  from  the  face  of  Camaralzaman,  the  son 
of  King  Shah-Zeman,  and  his  countenance  beamed 
and  shone  with  beauty.  "Look,"  she  said,  "O  ac- 
cursed Dahnash,  and  be  not  the  basest  of  fools." 
Dahnash  looked,  and  shook  his  head  and  said:  "O  my 
mistress,  thou  art  to  be  excused  for  admiring  this  young 


Prince   Camaralzaman 

man  for  he  is  the  image  of  my  beloved  in  form  and 
beauty.  They  are  exactly  alike." 

When  the  Fairy  heard  this  she  fell  into  a  great  rage, 
and  struck  the  Afrite  on  the  head  with  her  wing  so 
hard  that  he  almost  died.  Then  she  exclaimed:  "O 
thou  accursed,  go  this  instant  and  lift  up  thy  Princess 
and  bring  her  quickly  to  this  place  so  that  we  may  see 
our  beloved  ones  side  by  side.  We  may  then  judge 
which  is  the  more  beautiful." 

The  Afrite  Dahnash  flew  immediately  away,  and 
Maimouna  flew  by  his  side  to  guard  him  from  the 
attacks  of  the  Marids.  At  the  end  of  an  hour  they 
returned  bearing  the  sleeping  damsel,  who  was  clad  in  a 
gold-embroidered  garment  adorned  with  jewels.  They 
placed  her  by  the  side  of  Camaralzaman,  and  behold 
they  were  alike  in  form  and  beauty.  They  resembled 
twins. 

"Verily  my  beloved  is  the  more  beautiful,"  said 
Dahnash.  "Nay,"  answered  the  Fairy  Maimouna, 
"thou  liest,  accursed  Dahnash,  for  mine  is  far  more 
beautiful  than  thine."  Thus  they  continued  contra- 
dicting each  other  until  the  Fairy  in  a  rage  struck  the 
floor  with  her  foot,  and  it  opened,  and  there  imme- 
diately rose  from  it  a  black  Afrite  blind  of  one  eye. 
His  eyes  were  slit  upward  in  his  face;  and  upon  his 
head  were  seven  horns.  He  had  four  locks  of  hair  hang- 
ing to  the  ground;  and  his  hands  were  like  the  paws  of 
a  strange  beast,  with  claws  of  a  lion,  His  feet  were  like 
the  elephant's,  with  hoofs  of  the  ass. 

As  soon  as  this  Afrite  rose,  and  beheld  the  Fairy 
Maimouna,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  said: 
"What  dost  thou  wish,  O  my  mistress,  daughter  of 
the  King  of  the  Genii?" 


CAMARALZAMAN    WOKE,   AND    TO    HIS   AMAZEMENT    FOUND   A    MOST 
BEAUTIFUL  DAMSEL 


Maimouna   and   Dahnash         57 

"O  Kashkash,"  she  answered,  "I  desire  that  thou 
judge  between  me  and  Dahnash.  Therefore  look  upon 
this  youth  and  maiden,  and  inform  me  which  of  them 
is  the  more  beautiful." 

The  Afrite  Kashkash  gazed  upon  Prince  Camaralza- 
man  and  the  Princess  Badoura,  and  said:  "Verily 
neither  of  them  is  more  or  less  beautiful  than  the  other, 
but  each  beareth  the  strongest  resemblance  to  the  other. 
I  therefore  propose  that  we  wake  each  of  them  sepa- 
rately, and  see  which  admire th  the  other  most.  "Ex- 
cellent," said  Maimouna,"  is  thy  advice,  and  I  approve 
of  it."  "And  I  also,"  said  Dahnash,  "approve  of  it." 

Dahnash  transformed  himself  into  a  flea,  and  bit 
Camaralzaman  in  the  neck.  Instantly  he  awoke  and 
to  his  amazement  found  sleeping  by  his  side  a  most 
beautiful  damsel  with  red  cheeks  and  black  hair,  and 
lips  like  coral,  and  clad  in  a  gold-embroidered  garment 
adorned  with  jewels,  and  on  her  neck  was  a  long  neck- 
lace of  precious  gems. 

Camaralzaman  was  confounded  at  this  sight.  He 
attempted  to  arouse  the  damsel  but  could  not,  for 
Dahnash  had  caused  her  to  fall  into  a  heavy  slumber. 
He  shook  her,  but  she  awoke  not,  nor  moved  her  head. 
He  remained  gazing  at  her  for  an  hour,  and  at  last 
he  said  to  himself:  "This  surely  is  the  damsel  whom 
my  father  wisheth  me  to  marry,  and  for  three  years  I 
have  refused  to  do  so!  Please  Allah,  when  morning 
cometh,  I  will  go  to  my  father  and  say:  'Marry  me  to 
her  this  very  hour."  Then  Camaralzaman  took  from 
her  finger  a  ring  set  with  jewels,  the  like  of  which  he 
had  never  seen  before,  and  around  it  were  inscribed 
verses.  He  placed  the  ring  on  his  own  little  finger, 
and  laying  down  his  head  fell  asleep. 


58  Prince   Camaralzaman 

Maimouna  turned  herself  into  a  flea,  and  bit  the 
Princess  Badoura  on  the  arm.  She  opened  her  eyes, 
sat  up,  and  beheld  a  young  man  sleeping  by  her  side. 
His  eye-lashes  were  black,  his  cheeks  like  anemones, 
his  eyebrows  arched,  and  his  countenance  beaming 
with  beauty. 

As  she  gazed  on  him  admiration  filled  her  heart. 
"Verily,"  said  she,  "if  I  had  known  that  this  handsome 
youth  was  the  Prince  who  demanded  me  in  marriage, 
I  had  not  rejected  him."  Then  she  shook  Camaralza- 
man, and  said:  "O  my  lord,  and  beloved  of  mine  eyes, 
awake  from  thy  sleep!"  Thereupon  Camaralzaman 
opened  his  eyes,  and  her  love  for  him  increased.  But 
the  Fairy  Maimouna  caused  him  to  fall  into  a  heavy 
slumber,  and  pressed  down  his  head  with  her  wing  so 
that  he  awoke  not. 

The  Princess  Badoura  shook  him  again,  but  he  did 
not  stir  nor  open  his  eyes.  Then  she  turned  over  his 
hand  and  seeing  her  ring  upon  his  finger,  uttered  a 
cry  of  astonishment.  After  which  she  took  off  another 
ring  from  his  finger,  and  placed  it  on  her  own  hand. 
Then  she  kissed  him  gently  and  laying  down  her  head 
fell  asleep. 

The  Fairy  Maimouna,  not  waiting  for  the  judgment 
of  Kashkash,  said:  "O  accursed  Dahnash,  thou  seest 
that  my  beloved  is  far  more  beautiful  than  thine. 
We  will  not  discuss  the  matter,  and  I  pardon  thee  for 
thy  presumption;  so  depart  now  in  safety.  And  do 
thou,  O  Kashkash,  lift  up  the  damsel  and  aid  this 
vile  wretch  to  convey  her  back  to  her  palace."  So 
the  Afrites,  Dahnash  and  Kashkash  lifted  up  the  Prin- 
cess Badoura,  and,  flying  away  with  her,  restored  her 
to  her  bed;  while  the  Fairy  remained  in  the  ruined 


Maimouna   and   Dahnash         59 

tower  gazing  at  the  sleeping  Camaralzaman.  When 
day  broke  she  returned  to  her  well. 

Now,  when  Camaralzaman  awoke  from  his  sleep, 
he  saw  that  the  damsel  was  gone.  He  called  to  the 
eunuch  who  was  sleeping  at  the  door,  saying:  "Arise 
and  tell  me  who  hath  taken  away  the  damsel  while 
I  was  sleeping."  The  eunuch  replied:  "What  damsel, 
O  my  lord?  Verily  no  damsel  hath  entered  this  cham- 
ber. How  could  any  one  come  in  while  I  was  sleeping 
behind  the  door  and  it  was  locked?"  At  this  Camaral- 
zaman exclaimed:  "Thou  liest,  O  ill-omened  slave, 
verily  with  mine  eyes  I  saw  the  damsel  sleeping  by  my 
side.  Inform  me  therefore  who  took  her  away  from 
me."  But  the  eunuch  swore:  "Verily  I  have  seen 
neither  a  young  man  nor  a  young  woman." 

Then  Camaralzaman  in  a  great  rage  seized  the  slave 
by  his  collar,  threw  him  down  upon  the  floor,  tied  him 
to  the  well-rope  and,  lowering  him  into  the  well,  plunged 
him  into  the  water.  The  eunuch  cried  for  help  and 
shrieked  and  called,  but  Camaralzaman  said:  "I  will 
not  draw  thee  up  until  thou  tellest  me  the  name  of  the 
damsel  whom  thou  tookest  away  while  I  slept."  Then 
the  eunuch  said:  "Deliver  me  from  the  well,  O  my  mas- 
ter, and  I  will  seek  thy  father  and  learn  from  him  the 
truth  of  the  matter."  So  Camaralzaman  drew  him  up 
and  let  him  go. 

Then  the  eunuch  ran  to  King  Shah-Zeman,  his  clothes 
dripping  and  his  limbs  trembling.  He  found  the  King 
conversing  with  the  Vizier  about  Camaralzaman.  He 
heard  him  say:  "Verily  this  night  I  have  not  slept 
fearing  lest  some  evil  might  befall  my  son  in  that 
ruined  tower."  But  the  Vizier  answered:  "Fear  not 
for  him.  No  harm  will  befall  him.  Leave  him  im- 


60  Prince   Camaralzaman 

prisoned  for  a  month,  that  his  temper  may  be  softened." 
And  while  they  were  thus  talking  the  eunuch  advanced, 
dripping  and  trembling,  and  said  to  the  King:  "Know, 
O  my  lord,  that  the  Prince  is  insane,  and  hath  mal- 
treated me  thus.  He  saith  that  a  damsel  passed  the 
night  in  the  tower,  but  I  know  nothing  of  her." 

When  King  Shah-Zeman  heard  this  he  cried  out 
to  the  Vizier  saying:  "Thou  who  didst  advise  me  to 
punish  him  thus,  arise  and  go  to  the  tower  and  see 
how  the  Prince  is!"  The  Vizier,  trembling  with  fear, 
arose  and  hastened  to  the  tower,  and  found  Camaralza- 
man sitting  upon  his  couch.  When  the  Prince  saw 
him,  he  exclaimed:  "O  Vizier,  thou  art  more  sensible 
than  this  miserable  slave!  tell  me  therefore  whither  is 
gone  the  beautiful  damsel  that  slept  at  my  side  last 
night?  For  I  know  that  thou  and  my  father  sent 
her  to  me.  Where,  therefore,  is  she  now?"  "O  my 
master,  Camaralzaman,"  said  the  Vizier,  "may  the 
name  of  Allah  protect  thee !  Verily  we  sent  no  damsel 
to  thee  last  night.  Thou  wast  here  alone,  with  the 
door  locked  and  this  eunuch  sleeping  behind  it.  Per- 
haps thou  didst  dream  of  a  damsel!" 

"Ill-omened  old  man!"  cried  Camaralzaman  starting 
up  in  a  rage,  "how  darest  thou  make  a  jest  of  me!" 
and  he  grasped  the  Vizier  by  the  beard  and  twisting  it 
around  his  hand  pulled  him  about  and  threw  him  on 
the  floor.  Then  he  said:  "Depart  now  and  tell  my 
father  that  my  heart  is  filled  with  love  of  that  damsel, 
and  that  I  consent  to  marry;  but  ,1  desire  none  but 
her,  for  my  love  is  toward  her  alone.  Arise  then  and 
hasten  to  my  father  and  return  to  me  soon." 

The  Vizier  arose,  and  ran  until  he  came  into  the 
presence  of  King  Shah-Zeman,  who  seeing  his  dis- 


Maimouna  and   Dahnash         61 

bevelled  condition,  said  to  him:  "O  Vizier,  who  hath 
so  wickedly  injured  thee,  and  ill  treated  thee  thus?" 
"Know,"  answered  the  Vizier,  "that  madness  hath 
fallen  upon  thy  son  Camaralzaman,"  and  he  informed 
the  King  of  all  that  had  taken  place.  "O  most  ill- 
omened  of  Viziers,  and  greatest  of  Emirs,"  answered 
the  King,  "surely  thou  hast  been  the  cause  of  the 
madness  of  my  son  through  thy  wicked  advice  which 
thou  gavest  me.  Know,  if  any  misfortune  hath  be- 
fallen him,  I  will  order  thee  to  be  executed  immedi- 
ately." 

The  King  then  arose  and  taking  the  Vizier  with  him, 
entered  the  tower  in  which  Camaralzaman  was  con- 
fined. When  the  Prince  saw  his  father,  he  came  forward 
and  having  kissed  the  king's  hands  stood  with  his  head 
hanging  and  his  hands  joined  behind  his  back.  Thus 
he  remained  a  while  in  silence,  then  with  the  tears  flow- 
ing down  his  cheeks,  he  recited  the  words  of  the  poet: 

"  If  I  have  been  guilty  of  a  fault  against  thee, 
If  I  have  committed  a  shameful  deed, 
Then  do  I  repent  with  tears  of  sorrow, 
And  crave  thy  pardon  and  thy  clemency." 

Hearing  this  the  King  embraced  him,  and  kissed 
him  between  the  eyes,  and  seated  him  upon  the  couch 
beside  him.  Then  he  looked  toward  the  Vizier  with 
the  eye  of  anger,  and  said  to  him:  "O  dog  of  Viziers, 
O  wicked  old  man,  how  darest  thou  assert  that  my 
son,  Camaralzaman,  hath  become  insane,  when  he 
is  no  more  insane  than  thyself?"  The  Vizier  shook 
his  head,  and  was  about  to  speak,  when  he  decided 
to  wait  a  little  and  see  what  would  happen. 

Then  the  King  said:  "O  my  son,  what  didst  thou 
say  to  the  eunuch  and  the  Vizier  about  a  beautiful 


62  Prince   Camaralzaman 

damsel  sleeping  at  thy  side?"  Camaralzaman  laughed 
and  answered:  "O  my  father,  wherefore  dost  thou  jest 
with  me?  Know  that  I  consent  to  marry  that  damsel, 
for  I  am  certain  that  thou  didst  send  her  to  me,  and 
then  didst  take  her  away."  At  this  the  King  ex- 
claimed: "The  name  of  Allah  protect  thee!  O  my  son, 
may  Allah  preserve  thy  reason!  Thou  hast  dreamed 
of  the  beautiful  damsel,  for  I  have  no  knowledge  of 
her  at  all." 

Then  said  Camaralzaman:  "Know,  O  my  father, 
that  I  awoke  this  night  and  found  a  damsel  sleeping 
at  my  side.  I  took  her  ring  which  I  put  upon  my 
finger,  and  presently  I  slept  again,  and  when  I  awoke 
at  dawn  there  was  no  trace  of  her,  but  my  own  ring 
was  gone.  Were  it  not  for  the  ring  I  should  imagine 
that  it  was  a  dream,  but  this  is  her  ring  upon  my  little 
finger.  See,  O  King,  its  value."  Camaralzaman  then 
handed  the  ring  to  his  father,  who  having  taken  it, 
turned  it  round,  and  said:  "Verily  some  great  and 
important  event  is  dependent  on  this  ring,  and  the 
affair  of  the  damsel  is  a  mystery.  I  conjure  thee, 
however,  by  Allah,  O  my  son,  to  be  patient,  for  Allah 
will  probably  dispel  thy  affliction  and  bring  relief 
from  thy  suffering." 

The  King  then  took  the  hand  of  his  son,  and  led  him 
to  the  palace,  where  Camaralzaman  laid  himself  upon 
the  bed  of  sickness,  and  his  father  seated  himself  at 
his  head,  weeping  and  mourning  for  his  son,  and  leaving 
him  neither  by  night  nor  by  day. 

After  some  weeks  the  Sultan  gave  orders  to  remove 
Camaralzaman  to  a  pavilion  overlooking  the  sea. 
Around  the  pavilion  were  windows  looking  out  on  the 
water.  Its  floors  were  paved  with  coloured  marbles 


Marzavan  63 

and  its  ceiling  was  painted  every  colour  and  decorated 
with  gold  and  blue.  It  was  furnished  with  rich  carpets 
and  cushions  and  silken  couches,  and  its  walls  were 
hung  with  brocade,  and  with  curtains  adorned  with 
jewels  of  all  kinds. 

Camaralzaman  entered  this  pavilion  and  laid  him- 
self down  upon  a  couch.  His  heart  was  troubled, 
his  complexion  grew  pale,  and  his  body  wasted  away 
daily.  His  father  sat  at  his  head  mourning,  and  left 
him  not  night  nor  day.  And  thus  they  continued  to 
do  for  many  weeks. 

Thus  did  it  happen  to  Camaralzaman. 


MARZAVAN 

OW  I  must  relate  what  took  place  with  the 
Princess  Badoura,  the  daughter  of  King  Gaiour, 
lord  of  the  Isles,  and  the  Seas,  and  the  Seven 
4.        I  Palaces. 

4-  When  the  Afrites  had  carried  her  back  and 

laid  her  in  her  bed,  it  was  near  daybreak.  As 
soon  as  it  was  light  the  Princess  awoke,  and  sat  up  and 
looked  about  her,  and  she  saw  that  the  handsome  young 
man  was  gone.  At  this  she  uttered  a  cry  so  loud  that 
her  slaves  and  nurses  gathered  about  her,  and  one  of 
them  said:  "O  my  mistress,  what  hath  befallen  thee?" 
"Thou  ill-omened  old  woman,"  answered  the  Princess, 
"where  is  my  beloved,  the  beautiful  youth  who  was 
sleeping  this  night  at  my  side?  Tell  me  whither  he 
hath  gone." 

"O    my    Princess    Badoura,   what    meaneth    these 
words?  "answered  the  attendant,  "do  not  jest  with  us  in 


64  Prince   Camaralzaman 

this  manner,  lest  thy  father  learn  of  it  and  our  lives  be 
lost."  "Wo  to  thee!"  exclaimed  the  Princess.  "Where 
is  my  beloved,  the  beautiful  young  man  with  the  lovely 
face,  and  with  the  black  eyes  and  the  arched  eyebrows? 
He  was  sleeping  here  last  night!"  "Heaven  preserve 
thy  reason,"  said  the  attendant,  "there  was  no  one 
here  all  night." 

Upon  this  Badoura  looked  at  her  hand  and  found  the 
ring  of  Camaralzaman  upon  her  finger,  and  saw  not 
her  own  ring.  "Verily,  thou  ill-omened  old  woman, 
thou  liest,"  she  cried,  and  drawing  a  sword  she  struck 
at  the  attendant  and  would  have  killed  her;  while  the 
other  slaves  hastened  and  told  her  father  what  had 
happened. 

The  King  came  immediately  and  said  to  the  Prin- 
cess: "O,my  daughter,  what  is  the  matter  with  thee?" 
"Where  is  the  young  man,"  she  answered,  "who  was 
sleeping  by  my  side  last  night?"  Then  her  reason  fled 
and  she  began  to  rend  her  garments.  So  when  her 
father  saw  this  he  ordered  the  female  slaves  to  seize  her, 
and  to  bind  her,  and  put  a  chain  around  her  neck  and 
attach  it  to  a  window  of  the  palace.  After  that  he 
summoned  the  astrologers  and  sages  and  magicians 
and  said:  "Whosoever  cureth  my  daughter,  I  will 
marry  him  to  her,  and  give  him  half  of  my  kingdom; 
and  whosoever  f aileth  to  cure  her,  I  will  cut  off  his  head 
and  hang  it  over  the  palace-gate." 

And  so  he  continued  to  do  until  he  had  cut  off  forty 
heads,  for  the  sages  were  unable  to  cure  the  Princess; 
her  case  perplexed  the  men  of  science,  and  the  magicians 
knew  no  means  of  restoring  her  senses.  So  the  Prin- 
cess Badoura  remained  in  the  same  state  for  three 
years. 


Marzavan  65 

Now  she  had  a  foster-brother  named  Marzavan,  who 
while  she  was  ill  had  been  travelling  in  distant  coun- 
tries. He  loved  her  exceedingly  and  when  he  returned 
from  his  long  journey  and  found  the  Princess  insane, 
he  said  to  his  mother:  "Do  thou  contrive  so  that  I  may 
visit  her,  perhaps  I  may  discover  some  means  of  curing 
her  ailment."  So  his  mother  arranged  matters  with 
the  eunuch  who  had  charge  of  the  door  of  the  palace  in 
which  the  Princess  Badoura  was.  And  when  the  night 
was  come  she  introduced  her  son  into  the  apartment 
in  which  the  Princess  sat  chained  to  a  window. 

She  welcomed  her  foster-brother  tenderly  and  said: 
"O  Marzavan,  dost  thou  really  think  that  madness 
hath  befallen  me?  Alas!  as  the  poet  saith: 

"Well,  am  I  mad? 

Then  bring  me  him  on  whom  I  rave! 
If  he  cure  my  madness, 
Do  not  blame  me!" 

So  Marzavan  perceived  that  she  was  in  love,  and  he 
urged  her  to  relate  her  story  and  she  did  so,  showing 
him  the  ring  upon  her  finger,  and  saying:  "O  my 
brother,  canst  thou  not  assist  me  in  my  affliction?" 
Upon  this  Marzavan  considered  the  matter  a  while, 
then  bidding  her  have  patience  said:  "I  will  travel 
through  all  countries  and  search  for  this  young  man: 
so  be  not  disquieted,  O  my  sister,"  and  having  saluted 
her  he  departed. 

He  returned  to  the  house  of  his  mother,  and  when 
the  morning  was  come  he  prepared  for  his  travels.  He 
set  forth  and  journeyed  from  city  to  city  and  from  is- 
land to  island  for  a  whole  month  until  he  arrived  at  the 
city  of  El-Tarf,  where  he  heard  that  Camaralzaman, 
the  son  of  Sultan  Shah-Zeman,  was  ill  and  afflicted 


66  Prince   Camaralzaman 

with  insanity.  When  Marzavan  heard  his  story  he 
asked  the  people  of  El-Tarf  in  what  country  the  Prince 
lived,  and  they  answered:  "In  the  Islands  of  Khaledan. 
Between  us  and  them  is  a  voyage  of  a  whole  month 
by  sea;  but  by  land,  the  journey  is  six  months." 

So  Marzavan  embarked  in  a  ship  bound  for  the 
Islands  of  Khaledan.  The  wind  was  favourable  for  a 
month,  when  the  city  appeared  before  them.  They 
had  almost  gained  the  shore  when  a  tempestuous  wind 
arose  which  destroyed  the  ship  so  that  the  yard  was 
carried  away  and  the  sails  fell  into  the  sea,  and  the 
vessel  was  capsized  with  all  that  it  contained. 

The  force  of  the  current  bore  Marzavan  along  until 
it  cast  him  beneath  the  Sultan's  pavilion,  where  Shah- 
Zeman  was  sitting  with  the  head  of  his  son  Camaralza- 
man in  his  lap,  who  for  two  days  had  neither  eaten  nor 
drunken,  nor  had  spoken.  It  happened  in  accordance 
with  Destiny  that  the  Vizier  was  standing  at  a  window 
looking  over  the  sea,  when  raising  his  eyes  he  beheld 
Marzavan  about  to  be  drowned  beneath  the  pavilion. 
Filled  with  pity  he  descended  the  steps  of  the  pavilion 
and  opened  the  water-gate  and  seizing  Marzavan  by 
the  hair  drew  him  forth. 

Then  he  clad  him  in  dry  garments  and  warned  him 
saying:  "We  shall  now  mount  to  the  apartment  above 
us,  but  do  thou  keep  silent  because  of  Camaralzaman, 
the  son  of  the  King,  for  he  is  sick  and  laid  upon  his  bed. 
He  hath  almost  parted  with  life,  from  the  wasting  of 
his  body,  and  become  numbered  with  the  dead.  He 
passeth  the  day  in  fever,  and  the  night  in  torments, 
and  we  despair  of  his  life." 

"I  conjure  thee,"  said  Marzavan,  "to  inform  me  why 
this  youth  is  so  afflicted."  The  Vizier  replied:  "Three 


Marzavan  67 

years  ago  his  father  commanded  him  to  marry,  and 
he  refused.  Therefore  his  father  placed  him  in  prison, 
and  when  he  awoke  the  next  morning,  he  asserted  that 
he  had  seen  sleeping  at  his  side  a  damsel  of  surpassing 
beauty.  He  told  us  he  had  taken  a  ring  from  her  finger; 
and  we  know  not  the  mystery  of  this  affair.  So  come, 
O  my  son,  and  let  us  go  up  into  the  pavilion.  But  look 
not  at  the  Sultan's  son,  lest  the  Sultan  be  enraged." 

So  Marzavan  said  to  himself:  "Verily  this  is  the 
youth  whom  I  am  seeking!"  and  he  followed  the  Vizier 
until  he  came  to  the  upper  saloon  in  which  the  Prince 
was;  and  the  Vizier  seated  himself  at  the  feet  of  Camar- 
alzaman.  As  for  Marzavan  he  stationed  himself  before 
Camaralzaman  and  looked  fixedly  at  him.  The  Vizier 
made  signs  that  he  should  go  away,  but  Marzavan  con- 
tinued to  stand  and  gaze;  then  he  said  in  a  low  voice — : 
"Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Allah  who  hath  made 
his  stature  like  hers,  and  his  complexion  like  hers,  and 
his  cheek  like  hers!" 

Camaralzaman  opened  his  eyes,  and  listened,  and 
making  a  sign  to  the  Sultan,  as  though  to  say:  "Let 
this  young  man  sit  by  my  side."  His  father  arose  and 
placed  Marzavan  by  the  side  of  the  Prince,  and  said  to 
him  kindly:  "Whence  art  thou?  What  is  the  name  of 
thy  country?"  "I  come,"  answered  Marzavan,  "from 
the  Islands  of  the  Land  of  China,  from  the  dominions 
of  the  King  Gaiour,  the  lord  of  the  Isles,  and  the  Seas, 
and  the  Seven  Palaces." 

Marzavan  then  whispered  in  Camaralzaman's  ear: 
"Strengthen  thy  heart  and  be  cheerful!  Thy  beloved 
awaits  thee.  She  too  hath  suffered.  She  is  now  im- 
prisoned in  the  most  miserable  condition,  with  an  iron 
collar  about  her  neck.  But  if  it  be  the  will  of  Allah,  the 


68  Prince   Camaralzaman 

restoration  of  you  both  shall  be  effected  through  my 
means." 

When  Camaralzaman  heard  these  words,  his  soul 
returned  to  him,  and  he  recovered,  and  sat  up.  His 
father  overjoyed  gave  orders  to  perfume  the  pavilion 
with  saffron,  and  to  decorate  the  city.  He  then  be- 
stowed a  dress  of  honour  upon  Marzavan,  and  caused 
a  delicious  repast  to  be  spread  before  him. 

On  the  following  morning  Marzavan  began  to  tell 
his  story  to  Camaralzaman  saying:  "Know  that  I  am 
acquainted  with  the  damsel  that  slept  at  thy  side,  and 
that  she  is  the  Princess  Badoura,  the  daughter  of 
King  Gaiour,  lord  of  the  Isles,  and  the  Seas,  and  the 
Seven  Palaces."  He  then  related  all  that  had  happened 
to  the  Princess  Badoura  from  the  beginning  to  the  end. 
On  hearing  this  Camaralzaman  rejoiced,  and,  arising, 
entered  the  bath  and  clad  himself  in  magnificent  gar- 
ments. His  father  was  overjoyed  at  the  recovery  of 
his  son,  and  again  ordered  the  city  to  be  decorated,  and 
bestowed  dresses  of  honour  upon  all  his  grandees,  gave 
alms  to  the  poor,  and  liberated  those  who  were  con- 
fined in  the  prisons. 

Marzavan  and  Prince  Camaralzaman  then  prepared 
for  the  journey  to  the  land  of  King  Gaiour.  They 
filled  two  saddle-bags  with  money,  and  placed  them 
upon  a  dromedary,  They  loaded  a  camel  with  water 
and  food,  and,  having  taken  leave  of  King  Shah-Zeman, 
mounted  their  horses  and  went  forth  into  the  desert. 
They  travelled  the  first  day  until  evening  when  they 
alighted,  and  ate,  and  drank,  and  fed  their  beasts  and 
rested.  After  this  they  mounted  again  and  journeyed 
on.  Thus  they  continued  to  do  for  many  days  and  nights 
until  the  Islands  of  King  Gaiour  appeared  before  them. 


Marzavan  69 

They  entered  the  capital  city,  and  repairing  to  a 
Khan  there  rested  for  three  days  from  the  fatigues  of 
the  journey.  After  this  Marzavan  conducted  Camaral- 
zaman  into  the  bath,  and  clad  him  in  the  attire  of  a 
merchant,  and  placing  an  astrolabe  of  gold  in  his  hand, 
said:  "Arise,  O  my  lord,  and  station  thyself  beneath 
the  windows  of  the  King's  palace,  and  call  out:  'I  am  a 
wise  man  who  can  cure  the  Princess  of  her  madness!' 
Then  the  King,  as  soon  as  he  hears  this,  will  send  for 
thee  and  introduce  thee  to  his  daughter;  and  when  she 
beholdeth  thee  her  madness  will  cease.  Her  father, 
rejoicing  in  her  restoration,  will  marry  thee  to  her,  and 
give  thee  half  of  his  kingdom." 

So  Camaralzaman  went  forth  from  the  Khan  clad 
in  his  merchant's  dress,  and  carrying  the  astrolabe. 
He  stationed  himself  under  the  windows  of  the  palace 
of  the  King  and  cried  out:  "Behold,  O  ye  people,  I  am 
a  wise  man  who  can  cure  the  madness  of  the  Princess 
Badoura!"  And  when  the  people  of  the  city  heard 
these  words,  and  saw  the  beauty  of  Prince  Camaral- 
zaman, they  were  moved  with  compassion  and  said: 
"Verily,  O  youth,  expose  not  thyself  to  the  vengeance 
of  King  Gaiour.  Turn  thine  eyes  toward  these  heads 
that  are  hung  up  over  the  palace  gate,  and  know  that 
the  owners  of  them  have  been  killed  because  they  tried  to 
cure  the  Princess,  and  failed  therein."  But  Camaral- 
zaman regarded  not  their  words,  and  cried  out  louder 
than  before:  "Behold  I  am  a  wise  man,  who  can  cure 
the  madness  of  the  Princess  Badoura!" 

And  while  people  were  attempting  to  dissuade  him, 
King  Gaiour  heard  his  cry  and  said  to  his  Vizier: 
"Bring  hither  this  astrologer."  So  the  Vizier  de- 
scended and  took  Camaralzaman  by  the  hand  and 


70  Prince   Camaralzaman 

brought  him  unto  the  King.     The  Prince  kissed  the 
ground  before  the  throne  and  recited  these  verses: 

"Eight  glorious  virtues  are  thine! 
May  Fortune  continue  thy  servant, 
And  inspire  thee  with  knowledge  and  piety, 
Generosity  and  noble  conquest.'* 

And  when  King  Gaiour  beheld  Camaralzaman  and 
heard  his  words,  he  seated  him  by  his  side,  and  said 
most  graciously  unto  him:  "O  my  son,  verily  do  not 
attempt  this  dangerous  task,  for  know  that  I  have 
bound  myself  by  an  oath,  that  whosoever  seeketh  to 
cure  my  daughter  and  faileth,  I  will  strike  off  his  head. 
Let  not  then  thy  beauty  and  strength  deceive  thee  and 
urge  thee  to  undertake  this  task,  for  know  verily  if  thou 
cure  her  not  I  must  strike  off  thy  head." 

"O  King  of  the  age,"  replied  Camaralzaman,  "I 
accept  thy  condition  and  will  cure  the  Princess." 
Thereupon  King  Gaiour  summoned  a  eunuch  and  said  : 
"Conduct  this  youth  to  the  apartment  of  the  Prin- 
cess Badoura."  The  eunuch  taking  Camaralzaman  by 
the  hand  led  him  along  a  passage  saying:  "Wo  to  thee, 
O  youth!  Hasten  not  to  thy  destruction!  Verily 
thou  little  knowest  what  calamities  are  before  thee!" 
He  then  stationed  the  Prince  behind  a  curtain  that 
hung  before  the  door  of  the  Princess'  apartment. 
"Which  mode  will  be  more  agreeable  to  thee;"  asked 
Camaralzaman,  "my  treating  and  curing  thy  mistress 
without  entering  her  room,  or  my  going  in  to  her  and 
curing  her  there?"  "If  thou  cure  her  without  seeing 
her,"  answered  the  eunuch,  "verily  it  will  be  a  greater 
proof  of  thy  excellent  skill." 

Thereupon  Camaralzaman  took  forth  an  inkhorn 
and  a  pen,  and  wrote  upon  paper  these  words: 


Marzavan  7 1 

"He  whom  sorrow  hath  afflicted  is  cured  by 
the  presence  of  the  Beloved;  but  misery  is  the 
lot  of  him  for  whose  sorrowful  heart  there  is 
no  supporter  or  helper,  for  whose  sleepless  eyes 
there  is  no  reliever  from  anxiety." 

He  then  wrote  these  verses : 

"  Peace  from  the  treasuries  of  the  grace  of  Allah 
Be  on  her  who  possesseth  my  soul  and  my  heart." 

And  beneath  these  verses  he  wrote : 

"  From  the  distracted,  the  distressed,  the  per- 
plexed, the  captive  of  transport,  Camaralzaman, 
the  son  of  Sultan  Shah-Zeman,  to  the  Peerless 
One  of  her  age,  the  most  beautiful  of  Houris, 
the  Princess  Badoura,  the  daughter  of  King 
Gaiour,  the  lord  of  the  Isles,  and  the  Seas,  and 
the  Seven  Palaces:  Know,  O,  Beloved,  that  I 
send  thee  the  ring  which  I  took  in  exchange 
when  we  were  together;  then  send  me  mine." 

And  he  enclosed  the  ring  of  the  Princess  Badoura. 

The  eunuch  took  the  letter  and  entered  the  apart- 
ment. The  Princess  received  it  from  his  hand  and 
opened  it;  and  when  she  saw  the  ring  she  arose  straight- 
way, and  straining  against  the  iron  collar  broke  it 
from  her  neck,  and  rushing  forth  threw  herself  on 
Camaralzaman,  crying  out:  "O  my  master,  do  I  see 
thee  awake  or  asleep?  Hath  Allah  indeed  graciously 
granted  us  this  reunion!"  She  then  praised  Allah  and 
thanked  him  for  removing  the  cause  of  her  despair. 

And  when  the  eunuch  saw  her  in  this  state,  he  went 
running  to  King  Gaiour,  and  kissing  the  ground  before 
him,  said:  "O  my  lord,  know  that  this  astrologer  is 
the  wisest  of  all  astrologers!  for  he  hath  cured  thy 
daughter  while  he  stood  behind  the  curtain."  "Can 


72  Prince   Camaralzaman 

this  news  be  true!"  exclaimed  the  King.  "O  my  lord," 
answered  the  eunuch,  "arise  and  see,  for  she  hath 
broken  her  chain  of  iron  and  is  now  with  the  astrologer." 

So  King  Gaiour  arose  and  went  in  to  his  daughter, 
and  when  she  beheld  him  she  covered  herself  with  a 
veil.  The  King  rejoicing  at  her  restoration,  kissed  her 
between  her  eyes,  for  he  loved  her  excessively,  and 
then  graciously  addressed  Camaralzaman,  saying: 
"Who  art  thou  and  whence  comest  thou?"  Thereupon 
Camaralzaman  acquainted  him  with  his  rank  and  in- 
formed him  that  his  father  was  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman, 
lord  of  the  Islands  of  Khaledan,  and  he  related  to 
King  Gaiour  his  whole  story  from  beginning  to  end, 
telling  him  how  he  had  taken  the  ring  from  the  finger 
of  the  Princess  Badoura,  and  how  she  had  put  his  ring 
upon  her  hand. 

King  Gaiour  wondered  at  this,  and  said:  "O  my  son, 
your  story  must  be  recorded  in  books,  and  read  after 
thee  age  by  age!"  He  then  summoned  the  Cadis  and 
witnesses,  and  performed  the  contract  of  the  marriage 
of  the  Princess  Badoura  to  Camaralzaman,  and  gave 
orders  to  decorate  the  city  for  seven  days. 

Then  a  banquet  was  prepared,  the  city  decorated, 
and  the  people  praised  Allah  for  having  caused  the 
Princess  to  fall  in  love  with  a  handsome  young  man  of 
the  sons  of  the  Kings.  The  women  dressed  the  bride 
in  magnificent  robes  and  the  marriage  was  concluded 
with  feasting  and  music.  On  the  following  day  King 
Gaiour  made  a  feast  for  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Islands 
of  his  empire,  and  the  celebration  continued  for  a  whole 
month.  After  which  the  Prince  and  Princess  lived 
in  happiness  and  joy  in  the  Seven  Palaces  of  King 
Gaiour. 


The   Lost   Talisman  73 


THE  LOST  TALISMAN 

NE  night  Camaralzaman  thought  upon  his 
father,  and  dreamed  that  he  saw  him  and  heard 
him  say:  "O  my  son,  why  dost  thou  desert  me 
thus?  Where  art  thou?"  And  he  awoke  sor- 
rowful and  told  his  wife  the  dream;  so  the 
Princess  Badoura  went  with  him  to  her  father 
and  begged  permission  for  them  to  set  forth  on  a 
journey  to  the  Islands  of  Khaledan.  The  King  granted 
the  permission,  desiring  his  daughter  to  pay  him  an 
annual  visit;  whereupon  she  kissed  her  father's  hand 
and  Camaralzaman  did  the  same. 

Then  King  Gaiour  fitted  out  his  daughter  and  her 
husband  for  the  journey.  He  provided  horses  and 
camels,  and  a  litter  for  the  Princess.  He  loaded  mules 
and  dromedaries  with  provisions.  And  on  the  day 
of  departure  he  bade  farewell  to  Camaralzaman  and 
bestowed  upon  him  a  magnificient  dress  of  gold  stuff 
adorned  with  jewels,  presenting  him  also  with  much 
treasure  and  committing  to  his  care  the  Princess 
Badoura.  After  which  King  Gaiour  accompanied  them 
both  to  the  limits  of  the  Islands,  and  embracing  his 
daughter  departed  and  returned  to  his  city,  together 
with  his  troops. 

So  Camaralzaman  and  the  Princess  Badoura  pro- 
ceeded with  their  attendants  the  first  day  and  the 
second  and  the  third  and  the  fourth,  and  continued 
to  journey  on  for  the  space  of  a  month.  One  day  they 
alighted  in  a  spacious  meadow  filled  with  green  trees 
and  flowering  shrubs,  here  they  pitched  their  tents 


74  Prince   Camaralzaman 

and  ate  and  drank  and  rested.  And  when  the  Prin- 
cess Badoura  was  asleep,  Camaralzaman,  entering  the 
tent,  saw  her  lying  upon  a  couch  clad  in  a  robe  of 
apricot-coloured  silk,  and  wearing  a  headdress  of  cloth- 
of-gold  embroidered  with  jewels.  He  observed  tied 
to  her  girdle  a  precious  stone  red  as  blood  on  which 
were  engraved  mysterious  characters. 

Camaralzaman  wondering  at  this  thought  to  him- 
self: "Verily  this  stone  must  be  of  great  importance 
or  she  would  not  have  thus  concealed  it  in  her  girdle. 
What  can  she  do  with  this?  And  what  secret  property 
doth  it  possess?"  And  he  took  the  stone  and  went 
forth  from  the  tent  to  look  at  it  in  the  light.  But  as 
he  was  examining  it,  lo,  a  bird  pounced  upon  it,  and, 
seizing  it  in  its  beak,  tore  it  from  his  hand  and  flew  away 
and  then  alighted  at  a  distance  upon  the  ground. 

Camaralzaman,  fearing  to  lose  the  precious  stone, 
ran  after  the  bird,  which  again  arose  and  flew  away, 
always  keeping  within  a  short  distance  of  its  pursuer. 
Camaralzaman  continued  to  run  after  it  from  valley 
to  valley,  from  hill  to  hill,  until  night  came  and  dark- 
ness commenced,  when  the  bird  flew  into  a  high  tree, 
and  perched  upon  a  bough,  while  Camaralzaman  stood 
beneath  it  faint  with  hunger  and  thirst.  Finding 
himself  lost  and  night  overtaking  him,  he  exclaimed: 
"There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  Allah,  the 
High,  the  Great!"  He  then  lay  down  beneath  the 
tree  and  slept  until  morning,  and  when  he  awoke  he 
saw  the  bird  arise  and  fly  away. 

So  he  walked  after  it,  and  the  bird  continued  to  fly 
by  little  and  little  at  the  same  rate  as  that  at  which 
Camaralzaman  walked.  Upon  seeing  this  he  smiled  and 
said  to  himself:  "Verily  this  is  a  wonderful  bird! 


LO,  A  BIRD  POUNCED  UPON  THE  TALISMAN 


The   Lost   Talisman  75 

Yesterday  it  flew  faster  when  I  ran,  and  to-day,  know- 
ing that  I  am  tired  and  cannot  run,  it  flieth  more 
slowly.  Verily  this  is  wonderful!  But  I  must  follow 
this  bird  whether  it  lead  to  life  or  to  death!" 

He  continued  following  the  bird,  which  passed  every 
night  upon  a  tree,  for  the  space  of  ten  days,  feeding 
upon  herbs  and  drinking  of  the  rivers,  until  he  came 
in  sight  of  a  great  city.  Then  the  bird  darted  into  the 
city  as  rapidly  as  a  glance,  and  disappeared  from 
Camaralzaman 's  sight.  The  Prince  wondered  ex- 
ceedingly at  this  and  exclaimed:  "Praise  be  to  Allah 
who  hath  preserved  me  and  brought  me  in  safety  to 
this  place!"  Then  he  seated  himself  by  a  stream  and 
washed  his  hands  and  feet  and  face,  and  rested  a  while 
thinking  on  the  distance  from  his  country  and  his 
friends,  and  of  his  hunger  and  weariness. 

Having  thus  rested  he  entered  the  gate  of  the  city, 
not  knowing  whither  to  go,  and  walked  through  the 
streets.  He  had  entered  by  the  land-gate  and  he  went 
on  till  he  passed  forth  by  the  sea-gate  without  meeting 
any  inhabitants.  The  city  was  on  the  shore,  and  he 
walked  by  the  water  until  he  came  to  a  garden.  He 
approached  its  entrance  and  behold  a  gardener  came 
forth  and  welcomed  him  saying:  "Praise  be  to  Allah 
that  thou  hast  escaped  the  people  of  the  city!  Enter 
this  garden  quickly  before  any  one  seeth  thee." 

So  Camaralzaman,  amazed  at  these  words,  entered 
the  garden,  and  said:  "Tell  me,  O  gardener,  who  are 
the  inhabitants  of  this  place?"  "Know,"  answered 
the  man,  "that  the  people  are  all  Magians  and  worship 
fire.  I  conjure  thee,  therefore,  to  tell  me  how  thou 
earnest  to  this  city."  Upon  this  Camaralzaman  ac- 
quainted him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  from 


7 6  Prince   Camaralzaman 

beginning  to  end,  and  the  gardener  wondered  thereat 
extremely,  and  said  to  him:  "Know,  my  son,  that  the 
countries  of  the  Mohammetans  are  distant  from  here 
a  four  months'  journey  by  sea,  and  by  land  a  journey 
of  a  whole  year.  We  have  a  ship  that  saileth  every 
year  with  merchandise  to  the  nearest  of  the  countries 
of  the  Mohammetans,  proceeding  to  the  Sea  of  the 
Ebony  Isles,  and  thence  to  the  Islands  of  Khaledan 
whose  King  is  Shah-Zeman.  Do  thou  then  remain 
with  me  for  a  year  and  be  my  assistant.  Thou  shalt 
receive  in  return  for  thy  services  one-fourth  of  the 
produce  of  this  garden." 

Camaralzaman  hearing  this  consented  with  joy. 
The  gardener  clad  him  in  a  blue  garment  reaching  to 
his  knees,  and  taught  him  the  art  of  gardening  and  of 
conducting  the  water  among  the  trees.  Camaralzaman 
also  occupied  himself  with  raking  the  grass  and  in  re- 
citing verses  praising  the  beauties  of  his  beloved  the 
Princess  Badoura.  Thus  they  continued  for  some  time. 


THE  EBONY  ISLES 

UT  as  to  his  wife,  the  Princess  Badoura,  she 
awoke  from  her  sleep,  and  asked  for  her  hus- 
band Camaralzaman,  but  found  him  not.  Feel- 
ing the  knot  of  her  girdle  she  perceived  that 
it  was  untied,  and  that  the  precious  stone  was 
lost.  Whereupon  she  cried  out:  "Alas!  Alas! 
Where  is  my  Beloved?  He  hath  taken  the  talisman 
and  gone!  He  knoweth  not  its  secret  virtue  and  he  is 
lost  forever!  Accursed  be  the  stone  and  the  hour  that 
hath  wrought  this  mischief!  If  my  attendants  learn 


The   Ebony   Isles  77 

that  I  have  lost  my  husband  they  may  rob  me,  there- 
fore I  must  devise  some  means  of  keeping  from  them 
the  knowledge  of  this  misfortune." 

So  she  put  on  clothes  of  Camaralzaman,  and  a  turban 
like  his,  and  disguising  herself,  went  forth  from  her  tent. 
She  called  the  servants  and  giving  orders  to  take  down 
the  tent  and  pack  the  goods,  mounted  Camaralzaman 's 
horse  and  prepared  for  the  journey.  The  servants 
obeyed  her  orders,  and  as  she  resembled  Camaralzaman 
none  doubted  her  to  be  really  he.  She  continued  her 
journey  together  with  her  attendants,  days  and  nights, 
until  she  came  in  sight  of  a  city  overlooking  the  sea. 
She  alighted  near  it,  and  there  pitched  her  tents  and 
rested.  She  asked  the  name  of  the  city,  and  was  an- 
swered: "This  is  the  City  of  Ebony,  and  its  King  is 
Armanos,  who  hath  a  daughter  named  Haiatalnefous." 

Now,  when  the  Princess  Badoura  had  alighted  to 
rest,  the  King  Armanos  sent  a  messenger  from  his 
palace  to  learn  what  King  had  encamped  outside  the 
city.  The  messenger  meeting  some  of  the  Princess' 
attendants  inquired  who  their  master  was,  and  they 
replied  that  he  was  the  Prince  Camaralzaman  journey- 
ing to  the  Islands  of  Khaledan  to  see  his  father,  the 
Sultan  Shah-Zeman.  The  messenger  immediately  re- 
turned to  King  Armanos  and  acquainted  him  with  the 
news,  and  as  soon  as  the  King  heard  it,  he  descended 
with  the  lords  of  his  court,  to  visit  the  stranger. 

As  he  approached  the  tents,  the  Princess  Badoura 
advanced  toward  him  on  foot,  and  the  King  alighted 
and  they  saluted  one  another.  Then  the  King  con- 
ducted her  to  his  palace  where  he  gave  orders  that  a 
banquet  should  be  prepared.  The  Princess  entered 
the  bath,  and  arrayed  herself  in  Camaralzaman's 


Prince   C  amaralzaman 

richest  robes,  which  were  of  silk  embroidered  with  gold 
and  adorned  with  jewels.  She  then  presented  herself 
before  King  Armanos,  who  was  charmed  with  her 
youth  and  beauty. 

"Know,  O  my  son,"  said  he,  "I  am  now  a  very  old 
man,  and  I  have  never  been  blessed  with  a  child  except 
a  daughter  who  resembleth  thee  in  form  and  stature, 
and  in  beauty  and  loveliness.  Because  of  my  age  I 
am  no  longer  able  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  a  King;  wilt 
thou  therefore  reside  with  me  and  dwell  in  my  country? 
If  so  I  will  give  thee  my  daughter,  and  half  of  my 
kingdom  with  her." 

Hearing  this  the  Princess  Badoura  hung  down  her 
head  in  shame  and  perplexity.  She  said  to  herself: 
"What  can  be  done  seeing  that  I  am  a  woman?  If  I 
tell  him  this  he  will  kill  me,  if  I  keep  silence  and  obey 
him  I  shall  be  disgraced.  But  I  have  lost  my  beloved 
Camaralzaman,  and  I  have  no  means  of  preserving 
myself,  unless  I  reside  here."  So  she  raised  her  head 
and  said:  "O  King  of  the  age,  I  hear  and  obey." 

King  Armanos  then  rejoiced  greatly  and  gave  orders 
to  proclaim  throughout  the  Ebony  Isles  the  ascension 
of  the  new  King,  and  he  commanded  the  houses  to  be 
decorated  and  the  drums  to  be  beaten.  He  assembled 
his  Emirs,  Viziers,  and  other  lords  of  his  empire,  and 
having  abdicated  the  throne,  appointed  the  Princess 
Badoura  in  his  stead,  and  clad  her  in  royal  vestments. 
And  every  one  who  looked  upon  her  was  astonished 
at  her  youth  and  beauty. 

So  when  the  Princess  Badoura  had  been  created 
Sultan,  the  King  married  her  to  his  daughter  the  Prin- 
cess Haiatalnefous.  And  when  the  two  Princesses 
were  left  alone,  and  the  doors  were  shut  and  the  candles 


The   Ebony   Isles  79 

lighted,  the  Princess  Badoura  sat  beside  the  Princess 
Haiatalnefous,  and  sighed  and  poured  forth  her  tears. 
She  thought  of  her  husband  and  of  all  the  events  that 
had  happened  to  her,  and  she  groaned  and  wept  again. 
Then  the  Princess  Haiatalnefous  clung  to  her  robe 
and  said:  "O  my  master,  why  art  thou  so  sorrowful?" 
And  the  Princess  Badoura  answered:  "O  my  Beloved, 
listen  to  my  story,"  and  she  related  to  her  all  that  had 
happened  from  first  to  last,  saying:  "If  I  oppose  King 
Armanos,  I  perish!  But  I  am  now  ruler  of  all  the 
Ebony  Isles,  and  if  I  remain  here  I  may  meet  Camaral- 
zaman,  for  there  is  no  other  way  by  which  he  can  return 
to  his  country  but  by  the  Ebony  Isles.  I  will  therefore 
commit  myself  unto  Allah  who  is  the  Best  Director!" 

When  Haiatalnefous  heard  this  story  she  was  full 
of  wonder,  and  was  moved  with  compassion  and  said: 
"O  my  sister,  fear  not!  Thy  secret  will  I  not  reveal." 
Then  they  embraced  each  other  and  talked  together 
until  the  time  of  morning  prayers.  After  which  the 
Princess  Badoura,  accompanied  by  her  attendants, 
entered  the  throne  room  and  judged  the  people. 

So  the  Princess  Badoura  remained  monarch  of  the 
Ebony  Isles,  and  the  people  obeyed  her  in  all  things. 
And  every  evening  she  conversed  with  the  Princess 
Haiatalnefous,  telling  her  about  Camaralzaman  and 
of  his  beauty  and  loveliness. 


8o  Prince   Camaralzaman 


THE  OLIVE  JARS 

OW  Camaralzaman  continued  to  reside  in  the 
garden,  weeping  night  and  day,  and  sighing 
and  reciting  verses;  while  the  gardener  to  con- 
sole him  said  that  the  ship  would  sail  at  the 
end  of  the  year  to  the  countries  of  the  Moham- 
metans.  Thus  the  Prince  remained  until  one 
day  the  gardener  came  to  him  and  said:  "O  my  son, 
cease  from  work  this  day  and  water  not  the  trees  for 
this  is  a  festival  of  the  people  whereon  they  visit  each 
other.  Therefore  rest  while  I  go  forth  and  seek  the 
ship  which  is  to  take  thee  to  the  Ebony  Isles." 

The  gardener  went  forth,  and  Camaralzaman  wan- 
dered about  reflecting  upon  his  misfortunes  and  his 
separation  from  the  Princess  Badoura.  As  he  did  so 
he  turned  his  eyes  to  a  tree  upon  which  two  birds  were 
contending  together.  One  overcame  the  other,  it 
pecked  at  its  neck,  and  severed  its  head  from  its  body, 
and,  taking  the  head,  flew  away  with  it.  The  bird 
thus  killed  fell  upon  the  ground,  and  as  it  lay  there,  lo, 
two  great  birds  pounced  upon  it,  one  of  them  placing 
itself  under  its  neck,  the  other  at  its  tail;  then  they 
spread  their  wings  over  it,  stretching  out  their  heads 
and  moaning.  After  which  Camaralzaman  saw  them 
dig  a  hole  in  the  ground  and  in  it  bury  the  dead  bird. 
Having  done  so,  they  soared  aloft  into  the  sky,  were 
absent  a  while,  then  returned  bringing  with  them  the 
bird  that  had  committed  the  murder.  They  alighted 
upon  the  grave  of  the  slaughtered  bird,  and,  crouching 
upon  it,  killed  the  captive  bird  and  rent  open  its  body 


The   Olive  Jars  81 

and  poured  its  blood  on  the  grave.  They  then  tore 
the  bird  to  bits  and  scattered  the  portions  of  flesh  in 
different  directions. 

All  this  took  place  in  a  short  time,  while  Camaralza- 
man  looked  on  in  wonder,  and  after  the  great  birds 
had  flown  away,  he  saw  something  shining  on  the 
grave.  He  approached  and  perceived  it  to  be  the 
bird's  crop.  He  took  it,  and  opened  it,  and  found 
within  it  the  talisman  which  had  been  the  cause  of  his 
separation  from  the  Princess  Badoura.  As  soon  as 
he  beheld  it  he  fell  to  the  ground  overcome  by  joy. 
When  he  recovered  he  said  to  himself:  "This  is  a  good 
sign!  This  verily  is  an  omen  portending  my  reunion 
with  my  Beloved!"  He  then  tied  the  talisman  se- 
curely to  his  arm,  and  rose  and  walked  about  the 
garden. 

After  a  while  he  took  a  hoe  and  a  basket  and  began 
to  dig  among  the  flowers,  and  about  the  trees.  Sud- 
denly he  struck  a  root  under  a  locust  tree,  and,  remov- 
ing the  earth,  discovered  a  trap-door.  He  opened 
this,  and  found  some  steps  descending  into  the  earth. 
He  went  down  until  he  came  to  an  ancient  and  spacious 
apartment,  and  in  it  were  many  jars,  and  they  were 
filled  with  red  gold.  At  this  sight  he  was  overcome 
with  wonder  and  delight,  and  he  ascended  to  the 
garden,  and,  having  closed  the  trap-door,  resumed 
his  occupation  of  digging  among  the  flowers  and  water- 
ing the  trees.  Thus  he  continued  to  busy  himself 
until  the  close  of  day,  when  the  gardener  returned  and 
said:  "O  my  son,  receive  the  glad  tidings  of  a  speedy 
departure  for  thy  native  land!  The  merchants  have 
made  ready  for  a  voyage,  and  the  ship  in  three  days' 
time  will  set  sail  for  the  Ebony  Isles,  which  belong  to 


82  Prince   Camaralzaman 

the  Mohammetans,  and  from  whence  thou  mayest 
travel  by  land  six  months  to  the  Islands  of  Khaledan 
and  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman." 

Camaralzaman  rejoiced,  kissing  the  gardener's  hand, 
and  said:  "O  my  father,  I  too  have  glad  tidings 
for  thee,"  thereupon  he  told  him  of  the  subterranean 
apartment  and  the  jars  of  red  gold.  Whereat  the 
gardener  exclaimed  in  wonder  and  said:  "Verily  for 
eighty  years  I  have  lived  in  this  place  without  find- 
ing anything!  And  thou  hast  been  here  less  than  a 
year  and  hast  discovered  this!  Therefore  it  is  thy  prize 
and  with  it  thou  shalt  return  to  thy  country."  "Nay," 
answered  Camaralzaman,  "the  treasure  must  be  di- 
vided between  us."  He  then  took  the  gardener  to  the 
trap-door,  descended  with  him  into  the  apartment,  and 
showed  him  the  gold  which  was  in  twenty  jars.  So 
Camaralzaman  took  ten  jars  and  the  gardener  took  ten. 

Then  said  the  gardener  to  him:  "O  my  son,  fill  large 
jars  with  olives  which  grow  in  this  garden,  and  place 
thou  the  gold  in  the  jars  and  the  olives  over  the  gold, 
then  close  the  jars  and  take  them  to  the  ship."  So 
Camaralzaman  filled  fifty  large  jars  putting  the  gold 
in  them  and  the  olives  over  the  gold,  and  the  precious 
talisman  he  put  into  one  of  the  jars.  After  which  he  sat 
conversing  with  the  gardener,  and  felt  confident  of 
his  early  reunion  with  his  family,  saying  within  him- 
self: "When  I  have  arrived  at  the  Ebony  Isles,  I  will 
journey  thence  to  the  country  of  my  father,  and  in- 
quire for  my  beloved  Badoura.  But  I  wonder  whether 
she  have  returned  to  her  own  country,  or  journeyed 
on  to  the  Islands  of  Khaledan,  or  whether  any  accident 
have  happened  to  her  on  the  way." 

He  then  related  to  the  gardener  the  story  of  the 


The   Olive  Jars  83 

birds,  and  of  what  passed  between  them,  whereat  the 
gardener  wondered.  After  this  they  both  slept  until 
the  morning,  when  the  gardener  awoke  ill,  and  re- 
mained so  for  two  days,  and  on  the  third  day  his  ill- 
ness so  increased  that  they  despaired  of  his  life.  Cama- 
ralzaman  grieved  for  his  friend,  and  while  he  was  in 
this  state  behold  the  master  of  the  ship,  with  the  sailors, 
came,  inquiring:  "Where  is  the  young  man  who  de- 
sireth  to  go  with  us  to  the  Ebony  Isles?"  And  Cama- 
ralzaman  answered:  "I  am  he."  And  he  desired  them 
to  transport  the  jars  to  the  ship.  The  sailors  carried 
them  to  the  ship,  while  the  master  said  to  Camaralza- 
man:  "Hasten!  for  the  wind  hath  become  fair."  And 
Camaralzaman  answered:  "I  hear  and  obey." 

He  then  conveyed  his  provisions  to  the  ship,  and 
returned  to  the  gardener  to  bid  him  farewell;  but 
found  him  in  the  throes  of  death.  So  he  seated  himself 
at  his  head  till  he  died,  and  he  closed  his  eyes  and  pre- 
pared his  body  for  burial  and  interred  it.  Having  done 
this  he  hastened  to  the  ship.  He  saw,  however,  that 
it  had  spread  its  sails,  and  departed.  And  it  continued 
cleaving  the  sea  until  it  disappeared  from  before  his 
eyes. 

He  was  confounded  and  perplexed  and  returned  to 
the  garden  anxious  and  sorrowful,  and  threw  dust  upon 
his  head.  He  hired  the  garden  from  its  proprietor 
and  employed  a  man  to  assist  him  in  watering  the 
trees,  and  going  to  the  trap-door,  he  descended  into  the 
apartment,  and  stowed  the  remaining  pieces  of  gold  in 
fifty  other  large  jars,  putting  olives  over  them.  He 
then  made  inquiries  respecting  the  ship,  and  was  told 
that  it  sailed  not  more  than  once  a  year.  His  trouble 
of  mind  increased,  and  he  mourned  for  what  had  be- 


84  Prince   Camaralzaman 

fallen  him,  especially  for  the  loss  of  the  precious  talis- 
man of  the  Princess  Badoura,  which  was  in  one  of  the 
jars  carried  away  by  the  ship.  He  passed  night  and 
day  in  tears,  and  reciting  verses. 

In  the  meantime  the  wind  was  favourable  to  the 
ship,  and  it  arrived  at  the  City  of  Ebony.  And  it 
happened  in  accordance  with  Destiny  that  the  Queen 
Badoura  was  sitting  at  a  window  and  beheld  the  vessel 
when  it  cast  anchor  by  the  shore.  Her  heart  throbbed 
at  the  sight,  and  she  called  her  Emirs  and  Viziers  and 
hastened  to  the  shore,  stopping  near  the  ship  as  the 
crew  were  landing  the  merchandise.  She  forthwith 
summoned  the  master  of  the  vessel,  and  asked  him 
what  he  had  brought.  "O  King,"  he  answered,  "I 
have  in  this  vessel,  aromatics  and  medicinal  powders, 
and  ointments  and  wealth  and  magnificent  stuffs  and 
costly  merchandise  such  as  camels  and  mules  never 
carry,  and  spices  and  aloes-wood,  and  the  finest  olives 
such  as  cannot  be  found  in  this  country." 

On  hearing  this  Queen  Badoura  felt  a  desire  for  the 
olives,  and  said  to  the  master  of  the  ship:  "What  is 
the  quantity  of  the  olives  that  thou  hast  brought?" 
He  answered:  "I  have  fifty  large  jars  full,  but  their 
owner  came  not  with  us;  and  the  King  shall  take  of 
them  what  he  desire th."  So  the  Queen  said:  "Land 
them  that  I  may  look  at  them."  And  the  master  called 
out  to  his  crew,  whereupon  they  brought  out  the  fifty 
jars,  and  she  opened  one,  and,  having  looked  at  the 
olives,  said:  "I  will  take  these  fifty  jars  and  give  you 
their  price,  whatever  it  be."  The  master  of  the  ship 
replied:  "Their  owner  is  a  poor  man,  and  their  price  is 
a  thousand  pieces  of  silver."  "I  will  take  them,"  said 
she,  "for  a  thousand  pieces  of  silver." 


The   Olive  Jars  85 

The  Queen  then  commanded  that  the  olives  should 
be  conveyed  to  the  palace,  and  when  night  came  she 
ordered  one  of  her  servants  to  bring  a  jar,  and  she 
opened  it.  There  was  no  one  in  the  chamber  but 
Haiatalnefous  and  herself.  She  placed  a  dish  before 
her,  and  on  pouring  into  it  some  of  the  contents  of  the 
jar,  there  fell  into  the  dish  a  heap  of  red  gold.  She  ex- 
claimed aloud  in  wonder,  and  proceeded  to  examine 
all  the  jars,  and  found  that  they  contained  gold  with 
olives  on  top.  And  searching  among  the  gold  she  found 
the  lost  talisman. 

As  soon  as  she  recognized  it  she  cried  out  in  her 
joy  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  and  when  she  recovered 
she  said  within  herself:  "The  loss  of  this  precious  stone 
was  the  cause  of  the  separation  of  my  beloved  Cama- 
ralzaman  from  me;  but  verily  the  finding  of  it  is  an 
omen  of  good  fortune!"  She  then  told  the  Princess 
Haiatalnefous  of  the  recovery  of  the  talisman. 

When  the  morning  came  she  seated  herself  upon  the 
throne,  and  summoned  the  master  of  the  ship,  who, 
when  he  came,  kissed  the  ground  before  her.  "Where," 
asked  she,  "did  ye  leave  the  owner  of  these  olives?" 
"O  King  of  the  age,"  he  answered,  "we  left  him  in  the 
country  of  the  Magians,  and  he  is  a  gardener."  Then 
she  said:  "Return  at  once  to  that  country  and  bring 
him  hither.  If  thou  bring  him  not,  thou  little  knowest 
what  misfortune  will  happen  to  thee  and  to  thy  ship!" 
She  immediately  gave  orders  to  affix  seals  on  the  store- 
rooms containing  the  merchandise  of  the  ship,  and 
said  to  the  merchants  who  owned  the  goods:  "If  this 
man  bring  not  the  gardener  to  me,  verily  I  will  slay 
you  all  and  seize  your  merchandise."  So  the  merchants 
pressed  the  master  of  the  ship  to  hasten,  promising  to 


86  Prince   Camaralzaman 

pay  him  much  gold  if  he  would  return  and  bring  with 
him  the  gardener,  and  said  to  him:  "Deliver  us  from 
this  tyrant!"  The  master  therefore  embarked,  and 
loosed  the  sails,  and  Allah  decreed  him  safety  so  that 
he  arrived  at  the  City  of  the  Magians,  and,  landing  by 
night,  went  up  to  the  garden. 

Now,  Camaralzaman  was  sitting  weeping  and  think- 
ing of  his  beloved,  and  of  all  the  misfortunes  that  had 
befallen  him;  and  the  master  of  the  ship  knocked  at 
the  gate  of  his  garden.  Camaralzaman  opened  the 
gate,  and  immediately  the  sailors  fell  upon  him,  seized 
him  and  carried  him  off,  and,  embarking,  loosed  the 
sails  and  departed.  They  continued  their  voyage  days 
and  nights.  Camaralzaman  asked  them  the  cause  of 
his  capture,  and  they  answered:  "Thou  art  an  offender 
against  the  King  of  the  Ebony  Isles,  the  son  of  the 
King  Armanos.  O  thou  unlucky  man!"  But  he  an- 
swered: "Verily  in  all  my  life  I  have  never  entered  his 
country,  nor  do  I  know  anything  about  it." 

They  continued  their  voyage,  until  they  came  in 
sight  of  the  Ebony  Isles,  and  they  landed  at  the  City 
of  Ebony  and  took  him  before  the  Queen  Badoura. 
As  soon  as  she  saw  him  she  knew  him,  and  said  to  her 
attendants:  "Take  this  young  man  to  the  eunuchs  that 
they  may  conduct  him  into  the  bath."  They  did  so, 
while  she  relieved  the  fears  of  the  merchants,  and  be- 
stowed upon  the  master  of  the  ship  a  robe  of  honour 
worth  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  after  which  she 
went  to  the  Princess  Haiatalnefous,  and  informed  her 
of  all  that  had  happened. 

Meanwhile  the  eunuchs  had  clad  Camaralzaman  in 
the  apparel  of  Kings,  and  when  he  came  forth  from  the 
bath  he  resembled  in  beauty  a  branch  of  Oriental 


The  Olive  Jars  87 

willow,  or  a  star  at  whose  appearance  the  sun  and  the 
moon  seemed  abashed.  Then  Queen  Badoura  sent  for 
him,  and  restraining  her  heart,  did  not  make  herself 
known.  She  bestowed  upon  him  memlooks  and  serv- 
ants, and  camels  and  mules,  gave  him  much  wealth, 
and  promoted  him  from  office  to  office  until  she  had 
made  him  chief  treasurer,  and  delivered  all  the  riches 
of  the  empire  to  his  care.  She  admitted  him  into  high 
favour  and  caused  the  Emirs  to  show  him  respect,  and 
all  who  saw  him  loved  him.  And  Camaralzaman  knew 
not  the  reason  for  her  thus  honouring  him.  From  the 
abundance  of  his  wealth  he  gave  liberal  presents,  and 
he  served  King  Armanos  with  such  zeal  that  he  loved 
him,  as  did  the  Emirs  and  other  great  men,  and  the 
common  people. 

But  all  this  time  Camaralzaman  wondered  at  the 
honours  which  Queen  Badoura  shewed  him,  and  said 
to  himself:  "Verily  this  love  must  have  some  cause, 
or  perhaps  this  King  f avoureth  me  thus  with  evil  intent ! 
I  must  therefore  ask  his  permission  to  depart  from  his 
country."  Accordingly  he  went  to  the  Queen  Badoura, 
and  said  to  her:  "O  King,  thou  hast  bestowed  on  me 
great  favours,  and  thy  favours  will  be  complete  if  thou 
wilt  permit  me  to  depart,  and  if  thou  wilt  take  from 
me  all  thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me."  And  the  Queen 
Badoura  smiled  and  answered:  "Why  dost  thou  wish 
to  travel,  and  to  rush  headlong  into  peril,  when  thou 
art  enjoying  the  highest  favours?"  "O  King,"  replied 
Camaralzaman,  "if  these  favours  be  without  cause, 
it  is  most  wonderful!" 

The  Queen  Badoura  then  took  him  into  a  private 
apartment,  and  made  herself  known  to  him,  saying: 
"Behold  I  am  thy  wife,  the  Princess  Badoura,  the 


88  Prince   Camaralzaman 

daughter  of  King  Gaiour,  lord  of  the  Isles,  and  the  Seas, 
and  the  Seven  Palaces!"  Whereupon  Camaralzaman 
was  overjoyed,  and  they  embraced  and  kissed  each 
other.  And  the  Princess  related  to  him  all  that  had 
happened  to  her  from  first  to  last;  and  he  in  like  manner 
acquainted  her  with  all  that  had  befallen  him. 

And  when  the  next  morning  came,  and  diffused  its 
light,  the  Queen  Badoura  sent  to  King  Armanos  and 
informed  him  that  she  was  the  wife  of  Camaralzaman, 
relating  to  him  their  story  and  the  cause  of  their  separa- 
tion; and  the  King  Armanos  on  hearing  the  tale, 
wondered  exceedingly.  He  gave  orders  to  write  it  in 
letters  of  gold,  and  then  sending  for  Camaralzaman 
said:  "O  son  of  Sultan  Shah-Zeman,  as  it  is  the  custom 
of  Mohammetans  that  a  man  should  have  more  than 
one  wife,  wilt  thou  marry  my  daughter  Haiatalnefous?" 
"I  must  first  consult  the  Queen  Badoura,"  answered 
Camaralzaman,  "for  I  owe  her  unlimited  gratitude." 
And  when  he  consulted  her  she  said:  "Excellent  is  thy 
proposal,  marry  her  therefore.  I  owe  her  a  debt  of 
kindness  for  all  her  favours  and  affection,  especially 
as  we  are  in  her  abode,  and  since  we  have  been  loaded 
with  the  benefactions  of  her  father." 

So  when  Camaralzaman  saw  that  the  Queen  Badoura 
inclined  to  this,  and  was  not  jealous  of  the  Princess  Ha- 
iatalnefous, he  consented  to  the  marriage.  As  for 
King  Armanos  he  went  forth  immediately  and  sat 
upon  his  throne,  and,  having  summoned  all  the  Emirs, 
and  Viziers,  and  the  lords  of  his  empire,  he  acquainted 
them  with  the  story  of  Camaralzaman  and  his  wife 
the  Princess  Badoura,  telling  them  that  he  desired  to 
marry  his  daughter  Haiatalnefous  to  Camaralzaman, 
and  to  appoint  him  King  over  them  in  the  place  of  his 


The   Two   Princes  89 

wife,  the  Queen  Badoura.  And  all  present  rejoiced 
at  this  decision. 

Then  King  Armanos  summoned  the  Cadis  and  wit- 
nesses, and  the  chief  officers  of  the  empire,  and  per- 
formed Camaralzaman's  contract  of  marriage  to  his 
daughter  Haiatalnefous.  He  also  gave  sumptuous  ban- 
quets, conferred  costly  robes  of  honour  upon  all  the 
Emirs  and  Viziers  and  chiefs  and  soldiers,  bestowed 
alms  upon  the  poor  and  liberated  all  the  prisoners. 
The  people  rejoiced  at  the  ascension  of  Prince  Cam- 
aralzaman,  praying  for  the  continuance  of  his  glory 
and  prosperity,  and  felicity  and  honour. 

As  soon  as  he  had  become  King  over  them,  Camaral- 
zaman  remitted  the  customs-tax,  and  conducted  him- 
self in  a  praiseworthy  manner  toward  his  people.  He 
continued  to  reside  with  his  wives  in  enjoyment  and 
happiness,  behaving  toward  both  of  them  with  im- 
partiality. Thus  he  remained  for  a  length  of  time;  his 
anxieties  and  sorrows  were  forgotten,  and  he  ceased  to 
think  on  his  father,  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman,  and  the 
glory  and  power  he  had  enjoyed  under  him. 

STORY  OF  THE  TWO  PRINCES,  AMGIAD 
AND  ASSAD 

4>    WFTER  this   Allah,    (whose  name  be  exalted!) 

ft I    blessed  Camaralzaman  with  two  sons,  by  his 

Vvl   two  wives.    They  were  like  two  shining  moons; 

+ 1        the  elder  of  them  was  the  son  of  Queen  Ba- 

I   doura,  and  his  name  was  Prince  Amgiad;  and 

I    I-  the  younger  was  the  son  of  Haiatalnefous,  and 

his  name  was  Prince  Assad,  and  he  was  more  lovely 

than  his  brother  Amgiad. 


go  Prince   Camaralzaman 

They  were  reared  with  magnificence  and  tenderness, 
and  instructed  in  all  the  sciences  and  arts.  They 
grew  up  to  the  age  of  seventeen,  always  in  each  other's 
company,  eating  and  drinking  together,  and  never 
separated.  And  when  they  had  attained  to  manhood, 
they  were  both  endowed  with  every  accomplishment. 

Now  it  happened  in  accordance  with  the  decrees  of 
Destiny,  that  two  damsels  of  the  King  Camaralzaman's 
household  were  jealous  of  the  two  Princes  Amgiad 
and  Assad,  and  hated  them  exceedingly.  They  there- 
fore agreed  to  destroy  them,  and  on  a  day  when  the 
King  returned  from  the  chase  they  approached  him 
weeping  violently,  and,  kissing  his  hands,  informed 
him  that  his  two  sons  were  traitors.  Each  told  the 
same  story  and  with  tears  besought  the  King  to  pro- 
tect himself.  And  when  Camaralzaman  heard  their 
words  the  light  became  darkness  before  his  face,  and 
he  was  violently  enraged,  and  he  arose  with  the  inten- 
tion of  falling  upon  his  two  sons  and  killing  them. 
But  his  father-in-law,  King  Armanos,  met  him.  He 
was  just  then  entering  to  salute  the  King,  having  heard 
of  his  return  from  the  chase;  and  he  beheld  him  with 
the  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and  with  blood  dropping 
from  his  nostrils  because  of  the  violence  of  his  rage. 
So  he  asked  what  troubled  him,  and  Camaralzaman 
acquainted  him  with  the  treachery  of  his  two  sons, 
and  said:  "I  am  now  going  to  kill  them  and  make  them 
an  example  to  all  wrong  doers."  When  King  Armanos 
heard  the  story  of  the  King,  he  likewise  became  in- 
censed against  the  Princes  and  said:  "Righteous  is 
this  punishment  thou  wouldst  inflict,  O  my  son,  and 
may  Allah  grant  no  blessing  on  sons  who  are  traitors 
to  their  own  father!  But,  O  my  son,  there  is  a  proverb 


The   Two    Princes  91 

that  saith  'He  who  considereth  not  the  results  of  an 
action,  fortune  will  not  attend  him;'  and  these  youths 
are  at  least  thy  sons.  It  is  not  proper  that  thou  shouldst 
kill  them  with  thine  own  hand,  for  so  doing  thou  wilt 
repent  afterward  of  having  put  them  to  death,  when 
repentance  will  not  avail.  But  send  them  with  one  of 
thy  memlooks,  that  he  may  kill  them  in  the  desert, 
where  thou  canst  not  see  them  die." 

So  when  Camaralzaman  heard  these  words,  he  saw 
them  to  be  just.  He  therefore  sheathed  his  sword, 
and,  returning,  seated  himself  on  the  throne,  and 
summoned  his  treasurer,  who  was  a  very  old  man, 
experienced  in  the  management  of  affairs  and  the 
vicissitudes  of  fortune.  And  he  said  to  him:  "Go,  take 
my  sons,  Amgiad  and  Assad,  and  bind  their  hands 
firmly  behind  their  backs,  and  place  them  upon  a  mule; 
then  mount  thy  horse,  and  go  forth  with  them  into 
the  desert  and  slaughter  them." 

The  treasurer  answered:  "I  hear  and  obey."  He 
arose  immediately,  and  finding  Amgiad  and  Assad, 
laid  hold  of  them,  saying:  "O  my  two  sons,  know  that 
I  am  a  slave  under  command,  and  your  father  hath 
given  me  an  order;  will  ye  then  obey  his  command?" 
They  answered:  "Yes."  And  the  treasurer  bound  their 
hands  behind  their  backs,  put  them  into  two  chests, 
and,  having  placed  them  upon  the  back  of  a  mule, 
went  forth  with  them  from  the  city.  He  proceeded 
with  them  over  the  desert  until  near  noon,  when 
he  halted  in  a  waste  and  desolate  place,  and  alight- 
ing from  his  horse  lifted  the  two  chests  from  the  back 
of  the  mule,  and  opening  them,  took  forth  Amgiad  and 
Assad. 

When  he  gazed  on  their  beauty  and  their  innocent 


92  Prince   Camaralzaman 

faces,  he  wept  violently,  then  drew  his  sword  and 
said:  "Verily,  O  my  lords,  it  is  painful  to  do  an  abom- 
inable deed  unto  you,  but  I  am  a  slave  under  command, 
and  your  father,  the  King  Camaralzaman,  hath  ordered 
me  to  strike  off  your  heads."  And  the  youths  replied: 
"O  Emir,  do  what  the  King  hath  commanded  thee, 
for  we  patiently  submit  to  the  will  of  Allah  (to  whom 
be  ascribed  all  might  and  glory!),  and  thou  art  absolved 
from  the  guilt  of  shedding  our  blood." 

The  Princes  then  embraced  each  other,  and  bade 
farewell;  and  Assad  said  to  the  treasurer:  "By  Allah 
I  conjure  thee,  O  uncle,  that  thou  make  me  not  to 
drink  of  the  anguish  of  my  brother,  but  kill  me  before 
him."  Amgiad  also  said  to  the  treasurer  what  Assad 
had  said,  and  entreated  him  that  he  might  die  before 
his  brother,  saying  to  him:  "My  brother  is  younger 
than  I;  therefore  make  me  not  to  taste  of  his  affliction." 
Then  each  of  them  wept  most  violently,  and  the  treas- 
urer wept  also  at  witnessing  their  lamentation.  And 
the  two  brothers  embraced  each  other  again,  and  bade 
farewell,  one  of  them  saying  to  the  other:  "Verily 
this  is  all  owing  to  the  artifice  of  those  two  deceitful 
women!  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  Allah, 
the  High,  the  Great!  Verily  to  Allah  we  belong,  and 
verily  unto  Him  we  return!"  And  Assad,  embracing 
his  brother,  uttered  groans.  And  when  Amgiad  heard 
the  weeping  of  his  brother  he  likewise  wept  and  pressed 
him  to  his  bosom. 

Then  Amgiad  said  to  the  treasurer:  "I  implore  thee 
by  the  One,  the  Omnipotent,  the  King,  the  Protector, 
that  thou  kill  me  before  my  brother  Assad."  But 
Assad  weeping  said:  "None  shall  be  killed  first  but 
myself!"  So  Amgiad  said:  "The  best  plan  will  be 


The   Two    Prirces  93 

this:  that  thou  embrace  me,  and  I  embrace  thee,  so 
that  the  sword  may  fall  upon  us  anc  kill  us  both  with 
one  blow." 

And  when  they  had  both  embraced,  face  to  face, 
and  clung  together,  the  treasurer  bound  them,  and 
tied  them  with  ropes,  weeping  as  he  did  so.  He  then 
drew  his  sword  and  said:  "Verily,  O  my  lords,  it  is 
hard  to  kill  you!  Have  ye  any  want?  If  so,  I  will 
perform  it.  Or  any  commission?  If  so,  I  will  execute 
it.  Or  any  message?  If  so,  I  will  convey  it."  And 
Amgiad  answered:  "We  have  no  want  to  be  performed; 
but  I  charge  thee  to  strike  me  with  thy  sword  first  so 
that  I  may  die  before  my  brother.  When  thou  hast 
killed  us  return  to  the  King  and  say:  "Verily  thy  two 
sons  send  thee  their  greetings,  and  say  to  thee:  "Thou 
knowest  not  whether  we  are  innocent  or  guilty,  yet 
thou  wouldst  kill  us !  Thou  hast  listened  to  the  treach- 
erous words  of  two  women,  and  hast  condemned  us 
without  a  hearing." 

And  when  Amgiad  had  finished  he  embraced  his 
brother  once  more,  and  the  treasurer  drew  his  sword 
and  was  about  to  strike  them.  But,  lo,  his  horse 
started  away  in  fright  over  the  desert.  The  steed  was 
worth  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  upon  him  was  a 
magnificent  saddle,  worth  a  great  sum  of  money. 
So  the  treasurer  threw  the  sword  from  his  hand,  and 
ran  after  his  horse.  He  continued  following  until  the 
horse  entered  a  forest,  and  he  entered  after  him.  But 
the  horse  pursued  his  way  into  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
striking  the  ground  with  his  hoofs,  and  the  dust  rose 
high,  while  the  animal  snorted  and  neighed  in  his  fury. 

Now  there  was  in  that  forest  a  terrible  lion,  of  hideous 
aspect,  his  eyes  casting  forth  sparks,  and  his  form 


94  Prince   Camaralzaman 

striking  terror  int  >  the  soul  of  the  beholder.  And  the 
treasurer  looked  and  saw  this  lion  approaching  him, 
and  he  found  no  way  of  escape  not  having  a  sword. 
So  he  said  to  hrnself :  "There  is  no  strength  nor  power 
but  in  Allah,  the  High,  the  Great!  This  calamity 
hath  befallen  me  in  punishment  for  the  crime  that  I 
was  about  to  commit  against  Amgiad  and  Assad!" 

Meanwhile  the  heat  became  intense,  and  Amgiad 
and  Assad  suffered  from  violent  thirst,  so  that  their 
tongues  hung  out,  and  they  prayed  for  water.  But  no 
one  was  there  to  relieve  them,  and  they  said:  "Would 
we  had  been  killed  and  were  at  ease  from  this!  We 
know  not  whither  the  horse  hath  run,  and  the  treasurer 
hath  gone  after  it  and  left  us  bound  to  die  here  miserably 
of  thirst."  And  so  saying  Amigad  shook  himself,  and 
struggled  to  the  right  and  left,  until  his  bonds  were 
loosed,  and  he  arose  and  loosed  the  bonds  of  his  brother. 
After  which  he  took  the  Emir's  sword,  and  said:  "Let 
us  follow  the  treasurer,  and  see  what  hath  happened  to 
him." 

So  they  followed  the  footsteps  until  they  came  to 
the  forest,  then  said  Amgiad:  "Stay  here  while  I  enter 
this  wild  place,  and  examine  it."  But  Assad  replied: 
"I  will  not  suffer  thee  to  enter  alone,  and  we  shall  not 
enter  unless  together,  so  if  we  escape  we  shall  escape 
together,  and  if  we  perish  we  shall  perish  together." 
Accordingly  they  both  entered,  and  found  that  the 
lion  had  sprung  upon  the  treasurer,  who  was  lying 
beneath  him  like  a  sparrow,  but  calling  upon  Allah, 
and  stretching  out  his  hands  to  heaven.  So  when 
Amgiad  saw  him,  he  took  the  sword  and,  rushing  upon 
the  lion,  thrust  him  through  so  that  he  died. 

The  Emir  then  arose  and  seeing  Amgiad  and  Assad 


The   Two    Princes  95 

standing  there,  threw  himself  on  his  knees  before  them, 
exclaiming:  "O  my  lords,  it  was  not  just  that  I  should 
kill  you!  With  my  soul  will  I  ransom  you!"  Then 
rising  he  embraced  them,  and  led  them  forth  from  the 
forest  saying:  "Allah  forbid  that  I  should  attempt  to 
injure  you !  Hasten  from  this  spot  and  journey  to  other 
lands,  for  Allah's  earth  is  wide!  And  know,  O  my  lords, 
that  I  shall  miss  you  from  my  life!"  Having  said 
this  he  and  the  two  young  men  wept.  Then  the  treas- 
urer bade  the  youths  farewell,  and,  mounting  his  horse, 
returned  to  the  city  of  the  King. 

Meanwhile  Camaralzaman,  having  examined  some 
papers  and  letters  brought  him  by  the  friends  of  his 
two  sons,  had  discovered  the  truth  of  the  matter,  and 
that  the  stories  of  the  two  jealous  women  were  lies, 
and  that  his  sons  were  not  traitors  to  their  father. 
Thereupon  he  struck  his  hands  together  in  grief,  and 
exclaimed:  "Alas!  I  have  slain  my  sons  unjustly!" 
then  he  began  to  slap  his  face,  and  cry  out:  "O  my  sons! 
Oh,  the  length  of  my  grief!"  And  he  gave  orders  to 
build  two  tombs,  on  which  he  inscribed  the  names  of 
his  sons  Amgiad  and  Assad,  and  he  threw  himself  upon 
the  tomb  of  Amgiad,  weeping,  sighing,  and  lamenting, 
and  reciting  verses,  and  then  in  like  manner  upon  that 
of  Assad.  He  abandoned  the  society  of  his  wives  and 
his  friends,  and,  secluding  himself,  wept  and  mourned 
for  his  murdered  sons.  Such  was  the  case  of  King 
Camaralzaman. 

Now,  as  to  Amgiad  and  Assad,  they  proceeded  over 
the  desert,  eating  of  the  herbs  of  the  earth,  and  drinking 
rain-water.  At  night  one  slept  while  the  other  watched 
till  midnight,  then  the  latter  slept  and  the  former 
watched.  Thus  they  continued  for  the  space  of  a 


g  6  Prince   Camaralzaman 

whole  month,  until  one  day  they  saw  before  them  a 
mountain  of  black  flint.  A  road  led  up  the  mountain, 
and  along  this  they  pursued  their  way  toward  the  sum- 
mit. They  continued  to  ascend  for  five  days,  without 
reaching  the  top,  and  fatigue  overtook  them.  And 
Assad  said  to  his  brother:  "Verily  I  can  walk  no  further, 
for  I  am  reduced  to  excessive  weakness."  But  Amgiad 
answered:  "O  my  brother,  brace  up  thy  nerves,  perhaps 
Allah  will  help  us  to  reach  a  place  of  rest."  They  then 
continued  to  ascend  until  Assad  fell  upon  the  ground 
in  a  state  of  utmost  fatigue.  His  brother  Amgiad, 
therefore,  carried  him,  walking  a  while  and  resting  a 
while,  until  daybreak  gleamed. 

As  the  sun  rose  they  reached  the  summit  of  the 
mountain  where  they  found  to  their  surprise  a  small 
pavilion  near  which  was  a  gushing  stream  and  on  the 
banks  of  which  stood  a  pomegranate  tree  full  of  ripe 
fruit.  They  scarcely  believed  the  sight,  and  seating 
themselves  by  the  spring  they  ate  of  the  pomegranates 
and  then  laid  themselves  down  and  slept.  When  they 
awoke  they  washed  themselves  at  the  spring,  and  ate 
again  of  the  pomegranates,  and  slept  again  until  the 
time  of  afternoon  prayers.  And  thus  they  remained 
resting  and  eating  for  the  period  of  three  days,  until 
Assad  was  able  to  proceed,  after  which  they  journeyed 
over  the  top  of  the  mountain,  wearied  with  thirst, 
and  at  last  saw  in  the  distance  the  walls  of  a  city,  vast 
and  wonderful  to  the  sight. 

Upon  this  they  rejoiced  and  Amgiad  said:  "O  my 
brother,  sit  here  while  I  go  into  yonder  city  and  see 
what  kind  of  a  place  it  is,  that  we  may  know  where 
we  are  in  Allah's  wide  world.  Had  we  not  journeyed 
over  the  top  of  the  mountain  we  had  not  arrived  at 


The   City   of  the   Magians        97 

this  city  in  a  whole  year.  Praise  be  to  Allah,  then,  for 
our  safety ! "  "  Verily,  O  my  brother,"  answered  Assad, 
"none  shall  go  into  this  city  but  myself,  for  I  have 
not  the  strength  to  endure  thine  absence  from  me!" 
So  Amgiad  said  to  him:  "Go,  and  loiter  not." 


THE  CITY  OF  THE  MAGIANS 

rSSAD,  therefore,  descended  from  the  mountain- 
side,  taking  with  him  some  pieces  of  gold,  and 
leaving  his  brother  to  await  his  return.  He 
went  and  walked  without  stopping  until  he 
entered  the  city.  As  he  passed  through  the 
streets  there  met  him  a  very  old  man.  His 
long  beard  fell  in  two  locks  upon  his  breast,  and  in 
his  hand  was  a  staff,  and  he  was  clad  in  rich  garments, 
while  on  his  head  was  a  large  red  turban.  Assad  won- 
dering at  his  strange  appearance,  accosted  him,  saying: 
"Which  is  the  way  to  the  market,  O  my  master?" 
The  old  man  smiled  gently  and  said:  "Verily,  O  my 
son,  thou  seemest  to  be  a  stranger!  Whence  comest 
thou?  and  what  dost  thou  desire  from  the  market?" 

"O  uncle,"  answered  Assad,  "I  have  a  brother  whom 
I  have  left  on  the  mountain-side,  and  we  are  come  from 
a  distant  country.  We  have  been  travelling  for  three 
months,  and  but  to-day  arrived  at  thy  city.  So  I 
came  hither  to  buy  some  food,  and  to  return  with  it 
to  my  brother."  "O  my  son,"  said  the  old  man, 
"know  that  I  have  made  a  banquet  for  my  friends, 
and  have  prepared  the  most  delicious  of  viands.  Ac- 
company me  to  my  abode,  and  I  will  give  thee  what- 
ever thou  desirest,  and  will  take  no  money  from  thee. 


98  Prince   Camaralzaman 

I  will  also  tell  thee  all  about  this  city,  and  its  people. 
Praise  be  to  Allah,  O  my  son,  that  I  have  met  thee! 
and  that  none  but  myself  hath  met  thee!" 

So  Assad  said:  "Let  us  hasten  then,  for  my  brother 
is  waiting  for  me,  and  his  heart  is  full  of  anxiety." 
The  old  man  took  Assad's  hand,  and  led  him  through 
a  narrow  street,  smiling  and  saying:  "Extolled  be  the 
perfection  of  Him  who  hath  saved  thee  from  the  people 
of  this  city!"  He  walked  on  with  him  until  he  entered 
a  spacious  house;  and  followed  him  into  an  apartment 
in  which  were  sitting  forty  old  men,  arranged  in  a 
circle,  with  a  lighted  fire  in  their  midst. 

The  old  men  sitting  around  the  fire,  were  worshipping 
it,  and  prostrating  themselves  before  it.  When  Assad 
saw  this  his  flesh  quaked.  Then  the  old  man,  his 
guide,  said:  "O  sheikhs  of  the  Fire,  how  blessed  a  day 
is  this!"  and  he  clapped  his  hands  and  called  out: 
"Come  hither,  O  Gazban."  and  immediately  there 
entered  a  black  slave  of  a  grim  visage,  flat-nosed, 
with  bent  figure  and  horrible  shape.  And  at  a  sign 
from  the  old  man  the  slave  seized  Assad  and  bound 
him  hand  and  foot.  Then  said  the  old  man:  "Take 
him  down  into  the  subterranean  chamber  and  leave 
him  there,  and  tell  the  slave-girl  to  torture  him  by 
night  and  day,  and  to  give  him  a  cake  of  bread  by 
night  and  a  cake  of  bread  by  day,  until  the  time  comes 
for  us  to  voyage  to  the  Blue  Sea  and  the  Mountain 
of  Fire,  when  we  will  slaughter  him  upon  the  mountain 
as  a  sacrifice." 

So  the  black  slave  took  Assad  down  to  the  dungeon, 
and  delivered  him  to  the  slave-girl,  who  immediately 
began  to  torture  him,  and  beat  him  with  whips  so  that 
the  blood  flowed  from  wounds  in  his  limbs,  and  he 


The   City   of  the   Magians        99 

fainted.  Then  she  placed  at  his  head  a  cake  of  bread 
and  a  mug  of  salt  water  and  went  away.  And  the  old 
men  said  to  one  another:  "When  the  Festival  of  Fire 
arriveth  we  will  sacrifice  him  upon  the  mountain  to 
propitiate  the  fire." 

•Assad  recovered  his  senses  at  midnight,  when  he 
found  himself  chained,  and  his  wounds  pained  him 
excessively.  He  wept  violently,  and  thought  upon 
his  former  state  and  grandeur,  and  lamented  and 
groaned;  then  he  perceived  the  cake  of  bread  and  the 
mug  of  salt  water,  and  ate  a  morsel  and  drank  a  little 
water  to  stay  his  departing  spirit.  And  when  the 
morning  arrived,  the  slave-girl  came  down,  and  pulling 
off  his  clothes,  betook  herself  to  beating  him  until  he 
fainted,  when  she  threw  him  a  cake  of  bread,  and  put 
down  a  mug  of  salt  water  and  left  him  with  the  blood 
flowing  from  his  wounds.  And  he  lay  chained,  far 
from  his  friends,  thinking  of  his  brother  and  of  his 
departed  glory,  lamenting,  sighing  and  complaining, 
pouring  forth  tears  and  reciting  verses. 

Meanwhile  his  brother  Amgiad,  sat  expecting  him 
till  mid-day,  but  when  Assad  returned  not  his  fear  and 
loneliness  became  intense.  "O  my  grief!"  cried  he, 
"how  fearful  is  this  separation!"  Then  he  descended 
the  mountain-side  with  the  tears  flowing  down  his 
cheeks,  and  walked  on  until  he  reached  the  city.  He 
entered,  and  sought  out  the  market-place.  He  asked 
the  inhabitants  the  name  of  the  city,  and  they  an- 
swered: "This  is  the  City  of  the  Magians,  and  its  people 
worship  fire,  instead  of  the  Almighty  King."  He 
then  asked  the  way  to  the  Ebony  Isles  and  they  said: 
"The  distance  between  us  and  the  Isles  is  a  journey 
of  a  year  by  land,  and  by  sea  of  four  months.  The 


ioo         Prince   Camaralzaman 

King  of  the  Isles  is  named  Armanos,  and  he  hath 
appointed  his  son-in-law  in  his  stead,  whose  name 
is  Camaralzaman.  He  is  a  person  of  great  justice  and 
beneficence,  and  liberality  and  peace."  And  when 
Amgiad  heard  the  mention  of  his  father,  he  wept  and 
sighed,  and  knew  not  whither  to  repair. 

He  bought  some  food,  and  finding  a  place  to  conceal 
himself  in,  sat  down  to  eat,  but  remembering  Assad 
he  ate  no  more  than  enough  to  stay  his  departing  spirit. 
After  which  he  arose  and  walked  through  the  town, 
trying  to  obtain  tidings  of  his  brother.  He  found  a 
Mohammetan  tailor  sitting  in  his  shop;  so  he  seated 
himself  by  him,  and  related  his  story.  The  tailor 
said  to  him:  "If  thy  brother  have  fallen  into  the  hand 
of  any  Magian,  thou  mayest  never  see  him  again, 
unless  Allah  save  him."  Then  he  added:  "Wilt  thou, 
O  my  son,  lodge  with  me?"  And  Amgiad  answered: 
"Yes."  The  Tailor  rejoiced  at  this,  and  Amgiad  con- 
tinued to  abide  with  him  for  some  time  and  the  tailor 
taught  him  the  art  of  sewing. 

So  Amgiad  remained  in  the  City  of  the  Magians 
making  daily  inquiry  for  his  brother,  but  found  him 
not.  Now  it  came  to  pass  one  day  that  Amgiad  went 
on  an  errand  for  the  tailor  to  a  spacious  and  beautiful 
house  in  a  handsome  by-street.  The  owner  was  a 
memlook,  one  of  the  grandees  of  the  city,  for  he  was 
the  King's  Chief  Equerry,  and  he  had  fitted  up  the 
house  for  his  pleasure.  His  name  was  Bahadir.  He 
was  liberal-handed,  a  person  of  generosity  and  benef- 
icence, and  charity.  And  when  he  saw  Amgiad  and 
observed  his  beauty  and  loveliness,  his  heart  became 
warm  toward  him,  and  he  bestowed  upon  him  a  dress 
of  honour,  and  took  him  to  be  his  boon  companion. 


The   City   of  the   Magians      101 

And  Amgiad  continued  to  live  with  Bahadir  in 
pleasure  and  happiness,  and  in  feasting  and  joy  for 
many  months.  And  as  Destiny  had  decreed,  there  was 
upon  a  day  a  great  celebration  at  the  King's  palace, 
and  there  were  present  the  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and 
other  lords  of  the  empire.  And  Bahadir  went  up 
unto  the  King,  taking  with  him  Prince  Amgiad,  who 
when  he  had  kissed  the  ground  before  the  throne,  said: 
"O  King  of  the  age,  a  most  wonderful  event,  and  an 
extraordinary  occurrence  hath  happened  to  me." 
"Relate  thy  story,"  answered  the  King.  And  thereupon 
Amgiad  related  to  the  King  his  story,  acquainting  him 
with  all  that  had  befallen  him  and  his  brother  from 
beginning  to  end.  And  the  King  was  filled  with  ut- 
most wonder  at  hearing  it,  and  he  said:  "O  young  man, 
wilt  thou  be  to  me  a  Vizier?"  And  Amgiad  answered: 
"I  hear  and  obey." 

The  King  bestowed  upon  him  and  upon  Bahadir 
robes  of  honour,  and  gave  Amgiad  a  handsome  mansion, 
with  servants  and  officers,  and  conferred  upon  him 
wealth  and  all  that  he  needed,  and  ordered  him  to 
continue  his  search  for  his  brother  Assad.  So  Amgiad 
took  his  seat  as  Vizier,  and  exercised  authority,  and 
administered  justice,  He  also  sent  a  crier  through 
the  streets  of  the  city,  to  cry  for  his  brother,  and  for 
many  days  the  crier  repeated  his  proclamation  in  the 
great  streets  and  the  market-place;  but  heard  no 
tidings  of  Assad,  nor  discovered  any  traces  of  him. 
Such  was  the  case  of  Amgiad. 


IO2         Prince   Camaralzaman 


HISTORY  OF  THE  QUEEN  MARGIANA 


fl 


S  for  Assad,  the  Magians  continued  to  torture 
him  night  and  day,  and  evening  and  morning, 
for  the  space  of  a  whole  year,  until  the  Festival 
of  Fire  drew  near.  Then  the  old  man,  whose 
name  was  Bahram  the  Magian,  prepared  for 
his  voyage,  and  fitted  out  a  ship,  and,  having 
put  Assad  into  a  chest,  and  locked  it,  transported  him 
to  the  vessel.  It  happened  at  this  time,  that  Prince 
Amgiad,  in  accordance  with  Destiny,  was  standing  and 
gazing  out  at  the  sea,  and  he  watched  the  sailors  trans- 
porting goods  to  the  vessel  of  Bahram  the  Magian, 
His  heart  throbbed  at  the  sight,  and  he  ordered  his 
young  men  to  search  the  ship;  so  they  went  on  board, 
and  searched  the  whole  vessel,  and  found  nothing;  then 
they  returned  and  told  this  to  Amgiad,  and  he  thought 
upon  his  brother,  and  wept. 

Bahram  the  Magian  went  on  board  the  ship,  and 
called  out  to  the  seamen,  and  ordered  them  to  make 
haste  in  loosing  the  sails.  So  they  loosed  and  departed. 
They  continued  their  voyage  days  and  nights,  every 
two  days  taking  forth  Assad  and  giving  him  a  little 
food  and  water,  until  they  drew  near  to  the  Mountain 
of  Fire.  But  .a  storm  of  wind  arose  against  them, 
and  the  sea  became  boisterous,  so  that  the  vessel 
wandered  from  her  course,  and  pursuing  a  wrong  di- 
rection, came  to  a  city  built  upon  the  sea-shore,  having 
a  castle  with  windows  overlooking  the  sea.  The  ruler 
of  this  city  was  the  Queen  Margiana. 

The  captain  of  the  ship  said  to  Bahram  the  Magian: 


History  of  the  Queen  Margiana    103 

"O  my  master,  we  have  wandered  from  our  course, 
and  we  must  enter  the  port  of  this  city  and  take  rest, 
and  after  that  let  Allah  do  what  he  willeth.  The 
Queen  Margiana  is  a  faithful  Mohammetan,  and  if 
she  know  that  we  are  Magians,  she  will  seize  our  vessel 
and  kill  us.  What  then  shall  we  answer  her  if  she 
question  us?"  "I  have  this  Mohammetan  with  us," 
Bahram  answered,  "so  we  will  clothe  him  in  the  dress 
of  a  memlook,  and  I  will  say  to  the  Queen  that  I  am 
a  buyer  and  seller  of  memlooks,  and  that  I  have  sold 
all  except  this  one."  And  the  captain  said:  "This 
plan  is  a  good  one." 

They  arrived  at  the  city,  and  slackened  the  sails, 
and  cast  anchor,  and,  lo,  the  Queen  Margiana  came 
down  to  them,  attended  by  her  troops,  and,  halting 
by  the  ship,  called  out  to  the  captain.  He  went  on 
shore,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  her  and  said: 
"O  Queen  of  the  age,  I  have  with  me  a  merchant  who 
selleth  memlooks."  And  she  said:  "Bring  him  hither 
to  me."  And,  lo,  Bahram  the  Magian  came  forth 
with  Assad  walking  behind  him  in  the  garb  of  a  mem- 
look; and  when  Bahram  came  up  he  kissed  the  ground 
before  her.  She  said  to  him:  "What  is  thy  business?" 
"I  am  a  slave-merchant,"  he  answered.  Then  she 
looked  at  Assad,  "And  what,"  asked  she,  "is  thy 
name?"  And  almost  suffocated  with  weeping,  Assad 
replied:  "My  name  now,  or  that  which  I  had  formerly?" 
"Then  hast  thou  two  names"?  she  asked.  He  an- 
swered: "Yes,  formerly  my  name  was  Assad  the  Most 
Fortunate,  but  now  it  is  Motar  the  One  Devoted  to  be 
Sacrificed."  And  her  heart  was  moved  with  affection 
for  him,  and  she  said:  "Art  thou  able  to  write?"  He 
answered:  "Yes."  So  she  handed  him  an  inkhorn 


IO4         Prince   Camaralzaman 

and  pen,  saying  to  him:  "Write  something  that  I  may 
see."  Accordingly  he  wrote  two  verses. 

And  when  she  saw  the  excellency  of  his  writing  she 
said  to  Bahram:  "Sell  me  this  memlook."  He  replied: 
"I  cannot  sell  him,  for  I  have  sold  all  my  servants 
except  this  one."  But  the  Queen  Margiana  replied:  "I 
will  take  him  from  thee  by  force,  either  as  a  gift  or  a 
sale."  And  Bahram  answered:  "I  will  not  sell  him 
nor  give  him."  So  the  Queen  Margiana  seized  Assad 
and  carrying  him  up  to  her  castle  sent  word  to  Bahram : 
"If  thou  do  not  set  sail  this  night,  I  will  take  all  thy 
property,  and  destroy  thy  ship."  When  the  message 
arrived  Bahram  arose  in  haste  and  prepared  to  depart, 
saying:  "Alas!  Alas!  Verily  this  voyage  hath  been 
unfortunate!" 

Meanwhile  the  Queen  Margiana,  when  she  had  taken 
Assad,  conducted  him  into  the  castle,  opened  the 
windows  looking  over  the  sea,  and  ordered  her  slaves 
to  bring  food,  and  she  and  Assad  ate.  And  after  this 
repast  the  Queen  left  him,  and  he  seeing  a  door  open, 
passed  through  it  and  walked  on  till  he  came  to  a 
great  garden  in  which  were  all  kinds  of  fruits  and 
flowers.  He  approached  a  fountain  that  was  in  the 
garden,  and  laying  himself  down  there  upon  his  back, 
slept,  and  night  overtook  him. 

Bahram  in  the  meanwhile,  when  darkness  arrived, 
called  the  sailors  of  the  vessel,  saying  to  them:  "Loose 
your  sails,  and  proceed  on  the  voyage."  "We  hear 
and  obey,"  they  replied,  "but  wait  until  we  have  filled 
our  water-skins,  and  then  we  will  loose."  The  seamen 
landed  and  went  round  the  castle,  climbed  over  the 
wall  of  the  garden,  and,  descending  on  the  other  side, 
followed  the  path  that  led  to  the  fountain.  On  arriving 


History  of  the  Queen  Margiana    105 

there  they  found  Assad  lying  upon  his  back.  They 
recognized  him,  and  rejoiced.  So  they  seized  him, 
and  carried  him  away  after  they  had  filled  their  water- 
skins,  and  conveyed  him  quickly  to  Bahram  the  Magian, 
saying:  "Receive  glad  tidings!  for  thy  captive  whom 
the  Queen  Margiana  took  from  thee  by  force,  we  have 
found  and  brought!"  They  then  threw  Assad  down 
before  him.  And  when  Bahram  the  Magian  beheld 
him,  his  heart  leaped  with  joy.  He  bestowed  gifts 
upon  the  sailors,  and  ordered  them  to  loose  the  sails 
quickly.  They  loosed,  and  proceeded  on  their  voyage 
to  the  Mountain  of  Fire,  and  continued  their  course 
until  morning. 

Now  as  to  the  Queen  Margiana,  when  she  returned 
to  the  apartment  and  saw  not  Assad,  she  arose  and 
searched  for  him,  but  found  him  not.  So  she  lighted 
the  candles  and  ordered  her  slaves  to  seek  for  him. 
Then  she  went  into  the  garden  and  found  his  shoes 
lying  by  the  fountain,  and  sh,e  proceeded  to  search 
for  him  in  the  garden  and  round  about  it,  until  morn- 
ing, when  she  inquired  for  the  ship  of  Bahram  the 
Magian,  and  her  people  told  her  that  it  had  set  sail 
in  the  night.  So  she  knew  that  the  sailors  had  taken 
him  with  them,  and  she  was  violently  enraged,  and 
gave  orders  to  fit  out  immediately  ten  great  ships. 

She  prepared  herself  also  for  battle,  and  embarked 
in  one  of  the  ten  ships,  her  troops  embarking  with  her, 
equipped  with  magnificent  weapons  and  armour. 
They  loosed  the  sails,  and  she  said  to  the  captains  of 
the  ships:  "If  ye  overtake  the  ship  of  the  Magian,  I  will 
bestow  upon  you  robes  of  honour,  and  gold.  But  if  ye 
overtake  her  not,  I  will  kill  you  every  one."  The  sea- 
men, therefore,  were  inspired  with  both  hope  and  fear. 


106         Prince   Camaralzaman 

They  proceeded  that  day  and  night,  and  the  second 
day  and  the  third,  and  on  the  fourth  day  the  vessel  of 
Bahrain  the  Magian  appeared;  thereupon  the  ships  of 
the  Queen  Margiana  immediately  surrounded  the 
vessel.  Bahram  had  just  taken  forth  Assad,  and  was 
beating  and  tormenting  him,  while  he  cried  aloud  for 
help  but  found  no  creature  to  relieve  or  deliver  him 
from  the  torture.  And  the  Magian,  while  he  was  tor- 
menting him,  looked  up  and  perceived  that  the  Queen's 
ships  had  surrounded  his  vessel,  and  encompassed  her 
as  the  white  of  the  eye  surrounds  its  black.  He  then 
knew  that  destruction  was  certain,  and  exclaimed: 
"Wo  to  thee,  O  Assad!  All  this  misfortune  is  due  to 
thee!"  Then  he  ordered  the  sailors  to  throw  Assad 
into  the  sea,  saying:  "Verily  I  will  kill  thee  before  I 
die  myself!" 

Accordingly  the  sailors  took  him  up  by  his  hands  and 
feet,  and  cast  him  into  the  midst  of  the  sea.  But 
Allah,  (whose  perfection  be  extolled  and  whose  name 
be  exalted!)  desiring  his  safety,  permitted  him  to  rise 
to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  he  beat  about  with  his 
hands  and  feet.  The  waves  striking  him,  bore  him  to 
a  distance  from  the  ship  of  the  Magian,  and  he  reached 
the  shore.  So  he  landed,  scarcely  believing  in  his 
escape,  and  he  took  off  his  clothes  and  wrung  them  out, 
and,  having  spread  them  to  dry,  sat  down,  bemoaning 
the  calamities  that  had  befallen  him.  After  this  he 
arose,  and  put  on  his  clothes,  but  knew  not  whither  to 
go.  He  ate  herbs  of  the  earth,  and  fruits  of  the  trees, 
and  drank  of  the  water  of  the  rivers,  journeying  by 
night  and  day,  until  he  came  in  sight  of  a  city.  Seeing 
which  he  rejoiced,  and  quickened  his  steps,  but  when 
he  arrived  at  it,  the  evening  had  overtaken  him,  and 


History  of  the  Queen  Margiana    107 

its  gates  were  closed.  It  was  the  same  city  in  which 
he  had  been  captive,  and  to  whose  King  his  brother 
Amgiad  was  Vizier.  And  when  Assad  saw  that  its 
gates  were  closed,  he  went  into  a  burial-ground,  where 
he  found  a  tomb  without  a  door.  So  he  entered  it  and 
laid  himself  down  to  sleep. 

Now  Bahrain  the  Magian,  when  the  Queen  Margiana 
with  her  ships  overtook  him,  defeated  her  by  his  magic 
arts.  He  then  returned  in  safety  to  his  city,  and  pass- 
ing the  burial-gro.und,  in  accordance  with  Destiny, 
walked  through  it  and  saw  the  open  tomb  in  which 
Assad  was  lying  asleep.  So  he  looked  in,  and  beheld 
Assad  sleeping  there.  He  immediately  seized  him, 
and  conveyed  him  to  his  house.  He  placed  him  once 
more  in  the  dungeon,  and  committed  him  to  the  care 
of  his  daughter  Bustan,  putting  heavy  chains  upon 
him,  and  giving  orders  that  he  should  be  tortured  day 
and  night. 

So  his  daughter  Bustan  went  down  to  beat  Assad, 
but  finding  him  to  be  a  handsome  young  man,  affection 
for  him  entered  her  heart,  and  she  asked:  "What  is 
thy  name?"  He  answered  her:  "My  name  is  Assad." 
"Mayest  thou  ever  be  fortunate!"  said  she.  "Verily 
thou  art  not  deserving  of  torment,  and  I  know  that 
thou  hast  been  treated  unjustly."  And  she  proceeded 
to  unfasten  his  irons,  then  she  asked  him  about  the 
religion  of  the  Mohammetans.  And  Assad  told  her 
of  the  goodness  of  Allah,  (whose  name  be  exalted!) 
and  that  the  worship  of  Fire  was  evil,  and  he  also 
acquainted  her  with  the  religion  of  Mohammad;  and 
she  yielded  to  his  words.  The  love  of  Allah,  (whose 
name  be  exalted!)  entered  her  heart,  and  she  became 
one  of  the  Faithful.  She  then  gave  Assad  food  and 


io8         Prince   Camaralzaman 

drink,  and  prepared  for  him  delicious  ragouts  of  fowls, 
until  he  gained  strength  and  his  sorrow  ceased  and  he 
was  restored  to  his  former  health. 

After  this  the  daughter  of  Bahrain  went  forth  from 
the  dungeon  and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  house,  look- 
ing into  the  street,  and,  lo,  the  King's  crier  proclaimed 
and  said:  "Whosoever  hath  with  him  a  handsome  young 
man  whose  name  is  Assad,  and  produceth  him,  he  shall 
receive  of  the  Vizier  great  wealth.  But  whosoever  keep- 
eth  the  young  man  captive,  he  shall  be  hanged  at  the 
door  of  his  house,  and  his  property  shall  be  confiscated 
and  his  dwelling  demolished." 

Now  Assad  had  told  Bustan  all  that  had  happened 
to  him  from  first  to  last,  so  when  she  heard  this  she 
hastened  to  the  dungeon  and  told  him  the  news.  And 
she  brought  him  forth  from  the  dungeon  and  per- 
mitted him  to  go  to  the  mansion  of  the  Vizier.  As  soon 
as  he  saw  the  Vizier,  he  exclaimed:  "Verily  this  is  my 
brother  Amgiad ! ' '  and  threw  himself  upon  him.  Where- 
upon Amgiad  recognized  him,  and  in  like  manner  threw 
himself  upon  him,  and  they  embraced  each  other. 
Then  Amgiad  took  his  brother  and  went  up  with  him 
to  the  King,  and  related  to  him  his  story,  upon  which 
the  King  ordered  the  house  of  Bahram  the  Magian  to 
be  destroyed. 

So  the  Vizier  sent  a  company  of  men  to  do  this,  and 
they  repaired  to  Bahrain's  house,  and  confiscated  his 
property,  and  brought  his  daughter  to  the  Vizier,  who 
received  her  with  honour.  Assad  then  told  his  brother 
of  all  the  torture  he  had  suffered,  and  the  acts  of  kind- 
ness that  the  daughter  of  Bahram  had  done  him. 
Amgiad  therefore  treated  her  with  increased  honour. 

The  King  next  caused  the  Magian  to  be  brought,  and 


Conclusion  109 

commanded  the  executioner  to  strike  off  his  head. 
But  Bahrain  said:  "O  most  excellent  King,  hast  thou  de- 
termined to  kill  me?"  He  answered:  "Yes."  "Then," 
said  Bahrain,  "have  patience  with  me  a  little,  O  King." 
And  he  hung  down  his  head  toward  the  ground,  and 
presently  raising  it,  made  profession  of  the  Moham- 
metan  faith.  So  they  all  rejoiced  and  forgave  him  for 
what  he  had  done  to  Assad. 


CONCLUSION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  PRINCE 

CAMARALZAMAN  AND  THE 

PRINCESS  BADOURA 

HE  two  Princes  passed  that  night  in  happiness, 
and  when  the  next  morning  came  they  went  in 
to  the  King.  He  received  them  with  honour 
and  they  sat  conversing.  And  while  they  were 
thus  sitting,  lo,  the  people  of  the  city  cried  out, 
calling  for  help,  and  the  chamberlain  came  in 
to  the  King  and  said:  "A  mighty  King  hath  alighted 
with  his  troops  before  our  city;  all  have  drawn  swords; 
and  we  know  not  their  purpose."  The  King  told  this 
to  his  Vizier  Amgiad,  and  his  brother  Assad,  and  Am- 
giad said:  "I  will  go  forth  and  ask  this  King  the  reason 
of  his  coming." 

So  Amgiad  went  forth  from  the  city  gate,  and  found 
the  King  attended  by  a  great  army,  and  surrounded 
by  armed  memlooks.  He  kissed  the  ground  before 
him,  and,  lo,  the  King  was  not  a  man,  but  a  woman 
with  her  face  covered  by  a  veil!  "Know,"  said  she, 
"that  I  have  lost  a  memlook,  and  if  I  find  him  safe  in 
your  city  no  harm  shall  befall  you;  but  if  I  find  him 


no         Prince   Camaralzaman 

not  my  troops  shall  slaughter  the  inhabitants  of  this 
place."  "O  Queen,"  answered  Amgiad,  "what  is  this 
memlook  like?  And  what  is  his  story?  And  what  is 
his  name?"  She  answered:  "His  name  is  Assad,  and 
I  am  Margiana.  I  took  this  same  memlook  by  force 
from  Bahrain  the  Magian,  but  he  fell  upon  him  in  the 
night,  and  stole  him  away  from  me."  "O  Queen  of  the 
age,"  replied  Amgiad,  "praise  be  to  Allah  who  hath 
brought  us  relief!  Verily  this  memlook  is  my  brother." 
He  then  related  to  her  Assad's  story,  and  told  her  what 
had  happened  to  them  in  the  land  of  exile,  acquainting 
her  also  with  the  cause  of  their  departure  from  the 
Ebony  Isles.  Whereat  the  Queen  Margiana  rejoiced 
and  accompanied  Amgiad  to  the  presence  of  the  King, 
who  as  soon  as  he  saw  her,  descended  from  his  throne 
together  with  Assad,  to  meet  her.  And  they  all  sat 
and  conversed. 

And  as  they  were  so  engaged,  lo,  a  great  cloud  of 
dust  rose  in  the  distance,  and  after  it  had  subsided, 
they  perceived  a  numerous  force,  like  the  swelling  sea, 
approaching  the  city.  Amgiad  immediately  arose, 
and  passing  through  the  gate,  came  to  the  second  army, 
and  found  it  to  be  that  of  his  grandfather,  King  Gaiour, 
the  father  of  his  mother  the  Queen  Badoura.  So  when 
Amgiad  entered  his  presence,  he  kissed  the  ground  be- 
fore him,  and  the  King  said:  "I  am  King  Gaiour,  lord  of 
the  Isles,  and  the  Seas,  and  the  Seven  Palaces,  and  I  have 
come  journeying  forth  seeking  my  daughter  the  Prin- 
cess Badoura,  for  she  quitted  me,  and  I  have  heard  no 
tidings  of  her  nor  of  her  husband  Camaralzaman." 
And  Amgiad,  hearing  this,  again  kissed  the  ground  be- 
fore him,  and  informed  him  that  he  was  the  son  of  his 
daughter  Badoura.  And  as  soon  as  the  King  knew 


Conclusion  1 1 1 

this,  he  threw  himself  upon  him,  exclaiming:  "Praise 
be  to  Allah,  O  my  son,  that  he  hath  preserved  thee, 
and  that  I  have  met  with  thee!"  And  Amgiad  in- 
formed him  that  his  daughter  was  well,  and  also  Cama- 
ralzaman,  and  that  they  were  in  a  city  of  the  Ebony 
Isles.  He  also  told  King  Gaiour  all  that  had  happened 
to  himself  and  his  brother  Assad.  Then  King  Gaiour 
bestowed  a  robe  of  honour  upon  Amgiad,  and  sent  him 
to  acquaint  the  King  of  the  city,  with  all  that  had  oc- 
curred. 

And  while  Amgiad  was  relating  these  circumstances 
to  the  King,  lo,  again  a  great  dust  rose  till  it  overspread 
the  sky,  and  the  day  became  black.  And  they  heard 
the  neighing  of  horses,  and  beheld  swords  glittering 
and  lances  uplifted,  and  saw  a  great  army  approach 
the  city.  At  this  sight,  the  King  of  the  city  exclaimed: 
"Praise  be  to  Allah  who  hath  caused  us  to  make  peace 
with  two  armies!  May  he  also  give  us  peace  with  this 
vast  army!"  He  then  said:  "O  Amgiad,  go  forth, 
thou  and  thy  brother  Assad,  and  learn  ye  the  reason 
why  these  troops  are  advancing  against  the  city." 
Accordingly  Amgiad  and  Assad  went  forth.  They 
passed  through  the  gate,  and  proceeded  until  they  ar- 
rived at  the  army,  when  they  found  it  to  belong  to  the 
King  of  the  Ebony  Isles,  and  at  the  head  of  the  troops 
was  their  father  Camaralzaman.  As  soon  as  they  saw 
him,  they  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  wept. 
And  when  Camaralzaman  beheld  them,  he  threw  him- 
self upon  them,  and  pressed  them  to  his  bosom.  He 
then  informed  them  that  he  had  discovered  the  treach- 
ery of  the  two  evil  women,  and  had  learned  from  the 
treasurer  of  his  son's  deliverance  from  death.  And  Am- 
giad and  Assad  told  Camaralzaman  that  King  Gaiour 


ii2         Prince   Camaralzaman 

had  arrived,  and  one  of  them  hastened  to  acquaint 
King  Gaiour  with  the  coming  of  his  son-in-law  Cam- 
aralzaman. 

And  while  they  were  thus  occupied,  another  great  dust 
rose  until  it  overspread  the  sky,  and  the  earth  shook 
under  the  horses,  the  drums  sounded  like  stormy  winds, 
and  a  vast  army  approached,  its  soldiers  equipped  in 
black  armour,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  was  a  very  old 
man,  whose  chin  was  resting  on  his  breast,  and  who 
was  attired  in  black  garments.  When  the  people  of  the 
city  beheld  these  prodigious  forces,  they  feared  greatly 
and  the  King  of  the  city  trembled,  but  the  Queen  Mar- 
giana  and  the  other  two  Kings  said:  "Fear  not,  for  we 
each  have  numerous  troops,  so  if  these  be  enemies,  we 
will  unite  with  thee  and  attack  them."  And  while 
they  were  thus  conversing,  lo,  a  herald  from  the  ap- 
proaching army  appeared  and  entered  the  city.  They 
brought  him  before  the  Queen  Margiana  and  the  as- 
sembled Kings,  and  he  kissed  the  ground  before  them, 
and  said:  "I  come  from  the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman,  lord 
of  the  Islands  of  Khaledan,  and  he  is  searching  for  his 
lost  son,  Prince  Camaralzaman."  And  when  Camaral- 
zaman heard  this  he  uttered  a  loud  cry,  and  fell  down 
in  a  swoon.  Then  recovering  he  took  his  two  sons, 
Amgiad  and  Assad,  and  hastened  to  salute  his  father, 
the  Sultan  Shah-Zeman.  They  embraced  each  other, 
and  then  the  other  Kings  saluted  the  Sultan. 

They  restored  the  Queen  Margiana  to  her  country, 
after  they  had  married  her  to  Assad,  and  requested 
her  always  to  communicate  with  them.  They  married 
Amgiad  to  Bustan  the  daughter  of  Bahram,  and  all  of 
them  journeyed  to  the  Ebony  Isles,  where  Camaralza- 
man informed  his  father-in-law  King  Armanos,  of  all 


Conclusion  113 

that  had  happened,  and  how  he  had  met  his  sons,  at 
which  King  Armanos  rejoiced  greatly.  Then  King 
Gaiour,  the  father  of  the  Queen  Badoura,  went  in  to 
his  daughter,  and  saluted  her,  and  they  embraced  each 
other. 

After  this  King  Gaiour  journeyed  with  his  daughter 
and  attendants  to  his  own  country,  taking  Amgiad 
with  them.  And  when  he  was  settled  again  in  his 
kingdom,  he  seated  Amgiad  on  the  throne  to  govern  in 
his  stead.  As  to  Camaralzaman,  he  appointed  his  son 
Assad  to  rule  in  his  place  in  the  Ebony  Isles,  his  grand- 
father King  Armanos  approving.  Then  Camaralzaman 
journeyed  with  his  father,  the  ST  Jtan  Shah-Zeman,  to 
the  Islands  of  Khaledan.  The  city  was  decorated  in 
his  honour,  and  the  drums  cr  ntinued  to  beat  for  a 
month,  after  which  Camaral?  aman  sat  governing  in 
the  place  of  his  father  until  they  were  visited  by  the 
terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  compan- 
ions,— and  Allah  is  all-knowing! 


Chapter  III 


STORY  OF  JOUDAR 

THE  TWO  SONS  OF  THE  RED  KING  OF 
THE  GENII 

IN  ancient  days  there  dwelt  in  the  city  of  Cairo, 
a  merchant  whose  name  was  Omar.  He  had  three 
sons:  the  eldest  named  Salim;  the  second,  Selim; 
and  the  youngest  Joudar.  He  reared  them  until 
they  became  men;  but  he  loved  Joudar  more  than 
his  two  brothers.  When  this  became  manifest, 
jealousy  seized  Salim  and  Selim,  and  they  hated  their 
younger  brother.  As  their  father  was  old,  he  feared 
that  when  he  died  Joudar  would  suffer  harm  from  his 
brothers,  so  he  summoned  the  witnesses  and  said  to 
them:  "Omen,  divide  my  wealth  and  stuffs  into  four 
equal  portions."  They  did  so,  and  he  gave  each  son 
a  portion,  and  reserved  the  fourth  portion  for  his  wife. 
Shortly  after  this  the  father  died,  and  the  brothers 
separated,  taking  their  property  with  them.  But 
neither  of  the  two  envious  brothers  was  content  with 
his  share.  They  both  demanded  Joudar 's  portion,  say- 
ing to  him:  "Thou  hast  all  of  our  father's  wealth,  give 
us  some  of  it."  Thereupon  Joudar  appealed  to  the 
judge,  and  the  witnesses  testified  to  the  division  of  the 

114 


The  Two  Sons  of  the  Red  King    115 

property,  and  the  judge  forbade  Salim  and  Selim  injur- 
ing their  brother  Joudar. 

But  all  three  of  the  brothers  lost  much  money  by 
reason  of  the  cost  of  the  trial,  and  after  that  Salim  and 
Selim  left  Joudar  alone  for  a  little  while,  then  they 
plotted  against  him  a  second  time.  He  again  referred 
his  case  to  the  judge,  so  that  the  three  again  lost  much 
money,  but  the  judge  protected  Joudar.  And  Salim 
and  Selim  ceased  not  to  seek  Joudar's  harm,  appealing 
from  judge  to  judge,  until  the  three  had  given  all  their 
wealth  to  the  tyrants,  and  had  become  paupers. 

Then  Salim  and  Selim  went  to  their  mother,  and, 
mocking  her,  took  all  her  money,  beat  her  and  turned 
her  out  of  the  house.  She  sought  her  son  Joudar  and 
told  him  all  that  they  had  done  unto  her.  "O  my 
mother,"  answered  he,  "know  that  I  am  poor,  and  my 
brothers  are  poor  also.  We  have  lost  all  that  our  father 
did  leave  us,  because  of  the  judges.  Therefore  I  can- 
not refer  thy  case  to  the  courts.  Do  thou,  instead,  re- 
side with  me,  and  my  daily  cake  of  bread  I  will  leave 
for  thee.  Pray  for  rne,  and  Allah  will  supply  me  with 
the  means  to  support  thee  in  comfort.  As  for  my 
brothers,  leave  them  to  receive  from  Allah  punishment 
for  their  wicked  conduct."  And  Joudar  comforted  his 
mother,  until  she  consented  to  remain  with  him  and 
forget  the  treachery  of  Salim  and  Selim. 

After  this  Joudar  procured  a  net,  and  went  every  day 
to  the  lakes  and  rivers  to  fish.  All  he  caught  he  sold, 
and  gave  the  price  to  his  mother:  she  bought  food,  and 
they  ate  and  drank  well.  But  his  two  brothers  neither 
worked  nor  bought  and  sold.  Ruin  and  famine  en- 
tered their  abode,  for  they  had  consumed  all  they  had 
taken  from  their  mother.  They  became  wretched 


1 1 6  Story  of  Joudar 

paupers,  naked  and  hungry.  Sometimes  when  Joudar 
was  away,  they  would  go  to  their  mother,  and  beg  food 
of  her.  She  would  give  it  to  them,  saying :  "Eat  quickly 
and  go  before  thy  brother  cometh."  Then  they  would 
eat  in  haste  and  go. 

One  day  they  came  to  their  mother,  and  she  placed 
food  before  them,  and  they  did  eat;  and,  lo,  their  brother 
Joudar  entered  the  house!  His  mother  was  filled  with 
fear,  and  hung  down  her  head  for  shame;  but  he  smiled 
and  said:  "Welcome,  O  my  brothers!  Why  do  ye  leave 
me  desolate?  Why  do  ye  not  visit  thy  mother  and  me?  " 
They  replied:  "Verily,  O  our  brother,  we  longed  to  see 
thee,  but  we  were  ashamed  because  of  our  misconduct 
toward  thee  and  our  mother.  We  have  repented 
greatly."  And  Joudar  answered:  "May  Allah,  whose 
name  be  exalted!  bless  thee  both.  Reside  with  me. 
Allah  is  bountiful,  and  hath  given  me  good  things  in 
plenty."  "O  my  son,"  exclaimed  his  mother,  "may 
Allah  reward  thee  for  thy  generosity!" 

Thus  did  Joudar  become  reconciled  to  his  two 
brothers;  and  they  passed  the  night  in  his  house,  and 
supped  with  him,  and  on  the  following  day  breakfasted 
with  him;  after  which  Joudar  took  up  the  net  and  went 
forth  to  fish,  relying  upon  the  goodness  of  Allah.  His 
two  brothers  also  went  out,  and  were  gone  until  noon, 
when  they  returned  and  their  mother  put  before  them 
the  dinner;  and  in  the  evening  Joudar  came  bringing 
meat  and  vegetables.  In  this  wise  they  continued  for 
the  period  of  a  month;  Joudar  catching  fish  and  selling 
them,  and  spending  the  money  on  his  mother  and 
brothers,  and  the  latter  eating  and  frolicking. 

Now  it  happened  one  day  that  Joudar  took  the  net 
to  the  river,  and  cast  it,  and  drew  it,  and  it  came  up 


The  Two  Sons  of  the  Red  King    117 

empty;  and  he  cast  it  a  second  time  and  it  came  up 
empty.  And  he  said  to  himself:  "There  are  no  fish 
here."  So  he  removed  to  another  place,  and  there 
cast  the  net,  but  again  it  came  up  empty.  And  he  re- 
moved to  still  another  place,  and  ceased  not  to  change 
his  place  from  morning  to  evening,  but  caught  not  even 
a  minnow.  So  he  said  to  himself:  "This  is  wonderful! 
Is  there  not  a  single  fish  in  this  river?" 

He  then  put  the  net  upon  his  shoulder,  and  returned 
home  grieving  as  he  thought  of  the  hunger  of  his  mother 
and  brothers.  As  he  passed  a  bake-shop  he  stopped 
and  sighed,  and  the  baker  said  to  him:  "Welcome  to 
thee,  O  Joudar!  Dost  thou  want  bread?  If  thou  have 
not  with  thee  money,  take  what  bread  will  suffice  thee, 
and  bring  me  the  price  another  day."  So  Joudar  said: 
"Give  me  ten  nusfs*  worth  of  bread."  The  baker  re- 
plied: "Here  is  the  bread,  and  take  these  ten  nusfs  too, 
and  to-morrow  bring  me  fish  worth  twenty  nusfs." 
So  Joudar  took  the  money  and  the  bread,  and  having 
thanked  the  baker,  went  on  his  way  rejoicing.  He 
bought  meat,  and  his  mother  cooked  it,  and  they  all 
supped  and  slept. 

When  the  morning  came,  Joudar  took  the  net  and 
repaired  to  the  river,  and  cast  the  net  a  first,  a  second 
and  a  third  time,  but  nothing  fell  to  his  lot.  And  he 
returned  home  sorrowful,  and  when  the  baker  saw  him 
passing  by,  he  called  him,  and  gave  him  bread  and 
money,  saying:  "Take  these  and  be  not  ashamed,  thou 
mayest  pay  me  another  day."  And  so  matters  con- 
tinued for  the  period  of  seven  days. 

*  A  small  Egyptian  coin  made  of  silver  and  copper  mixed, 
worth  less  than  the  fourth  of  an  English  penny,  and  less 
than  the  half  of  an  American  cent. 


1 1 8  Story   of  Joudar 

And  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth  day,  Joudar  arose, 
and  took  the  net  and  went  to  the  Lake  of  Karoun. 
Arriving  there  he  was  about  to  cast  the  net  into  the 
water,  when  there  approached  him  an  African  riding 
upon  a  mule,  and  wearing  a  magnificent  dress;  and 
on  the  back  of  the  mule  was  a  pair  of  embroidered 
saddle-bags.  The  African  alighted  and  said:  "Peace 
be  on  thee,  O  Joudar,  O  son  of  Omar ! "  Joudar  replied : 
"On  thee  be  peace,  O  my  master  the  pilgrim!"  And 
the  African  said:  "O  Joudar,  I  have  an  affair  for  thee 
to  perform,  and  if  thou  comply  with  my  request,  thou 
wilt  obtain  abundant  good  fortune."  "O  my  master 
the  pilgrim,"  answered  Joudar,  "tell  me  what  is  in  thy 
mind,  and  I  will  obey  thee." 

The  African  gave  him  a  cord  of  silk,  saying:  "Bind 
my  hands  behind  me,  and  make  my  bond  very  tight, 
then  throw  me  into  the  lake,  and  wait  awhile.  If  thou 
see  me  put  forth  my  hands  from  the  water,  raising 
them  high,  cast  thou  the  net  over  me,  and  draw  me  out 
quickly.  But  if  thou  see  me  put  forth  my  feet,  know 
that  I  am  dead;  then  leave  me  and  take  the  mule  and 
saddle-bags,  and  go  to  the  market  of  the  merchants, 
where  thou  wilt  find  a  Jew  whose  name  is  Shumia.  Give 
him  the  mule  and  saddle-bags  and  he  will  give  thee  a 
hundred  pieces  of  gold.  Take  them  and  conceal  thy 
secret  and  go  thy  way." 

Joudar,  therefore,  bound  the  African's  hands  tightly 
behind  him;  after  which  the  man  said:  "Throw  me  into 
the  lake."  So  Joudar  threw  him  in,  whereupon  he  sank; 
and  Joudar  stood  waiting  for  him,  when,  lo,  the  feet 
of  the  African  came  forth.  So  Joudar  knew  that  he 
was  dead,  and  he  took  the  mule,  and  going  to  the  market 
of  the  merchants,  found  the  Jew  sitting  upon  a  bench 


The  Two  Sons  of  the  Red  King    119 

at  the  door  of  a  shop.  When  he  saw  the  mule,  the 
Jew  said:  "Verily  the  man  hath  perished!  And  naught 
hath  caused  him  to  lose  his  life  save  covetousness ! " 
And  he  took  the  mule  and  gave  Joudar  a  hundred 
pieces  of  gold,  charging  him  to  keep  the  matter 
secret. 

So  Joudar  took  the  pieces  of  gold,  and  going  to  the 
baker  paid  him  what  he  owed,  and  took  more  bread 
and  paid  for  that,  and  then  went  to  the  butcher  and 
got  meat,  and  returned  home.  He  found  his  brothers, 
begging  his  mother  for  something  to  eat,  and  he  said 
to  them:  "Take,  eat."  And  they  fell  upon  the  bread 
like  ghouls.  Then  Joudar  gave  his  mother  the  rest  of 
the  gold,  saying:  "Keep  this,  O  my  mother,  and  when 
my  brothers  come  to  see  thee  give  them  some  money, 
so  that  they  may  buy  and  eat  in  my  absence." 

And  Joudar  passed  that  night,  and  when  the  morning 
was  come,  he  took  the  net,  and  went  to  the  Lake  of 
Karoun,  and  stopping  there  was  about  to  cast  the  net, 
when,  lo,  another  African  approached  riding  upon  a 
mule.  He  was  more  splendidly  clad  than  the  first 
African,  and  he  had  with  him  a  pair  of  handsome 
saddle-bags,  in  which  were  two  little  boxes.  And  he 
said:  "Peace  be  on  thee,  O  Joudar,  O  son  of  Omar!" 
And  Joudar  replied:  "On  thee  be  peace,  O  my  master 
the  pilgrim!"  And  the  African  said:  "Did  there  come 
to  thee  yesterday  an  African  riding  on  a  mule  like  this 
one?  And  didst  thou  not  bind  his  hands  behind  him  and 
throw  him  into  the  lake?  And  did  he  not  say  to  thee, 
'If  my  hands  come  forth  cast  thy  net  and  draw  me  out 
quickly;  but  if  my  feet  come  forth,  I  shall  be  dead,  and 
take  thou  the  mule  and  give  it  to  Shumia  the  Jew,  and 
he  will  give  thee  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold?' — and  his 


I2O  Story   of  Joudar 


feet  came  forth  and  thou  tookest  the  mule  and  gavest 
it  to  the  Jew  who  presented  thee  with  a  hundred  pieces 
of  gold." 

And  Joudar  answered:  "Since  thou  knowest  this 
already,  why  dost  thou  ask  me?"  "It  is  my  desire," 
replied  the  African,  "that  thou  do  with  me  as  thou 
didst  with  my  brother."  And  he  took  forth  a  cord  of 
silk,  saying:  "Bind  my  hands  behind  me,  and  throw 
me  in.  If  the  like  of  what  befell  my  brother,  happen 
to  me,  take  the  mule  and  give  it  to  the  Jew,  and  receive 
from  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold."  So  Joudar  bound 
his  hands  behind  him,  and  pushed  him,  whereupon 
he  fell  into  the  lake  and  sank,  and  in  a  little  while  his 
feet  came  up.  So  Joudar  took  the  mule,  and  went  to 
the  market-street,  and  when  the  Jew  saw  him  he  said: 
"The  other  hath  died!  This  is  the  recompense  of  the 
covetous!"  And  he  took  the  mule  and  gave  Joudar  a 
hundred  pieces  of  gold,  who  received  it,  and  thanked 
him,  and  returned  home. 

On  the  third  day  he  took  the  net  and  went  and  stood 
by  the  lake,  and,  lo,  there  came  another  African  riding 
upon  a  mule,  and  having  with  him  a  pair  of  saddle-bags, 
but  he  was  more  gorgeously  clad  than  the  two  former 
ones.  And  he  said:  "Peace  be  on  thee,  O  Joudar, 
O  son  of  Omar!  Have  any  Africans  passed  this  way?" 
And  Joudar  returned  his  salutation,  and  said:  "Two." 
"Whither  went  they?"  asked  the  African.  "I  bound 
their  hands  behind  them,"  answered  Joudar,  "and 
threw  them  into  the  lake;  so  they  were  drowned,  and 
the  same  end  awaits  thee."  And  the  African  laughed, 
and,  alighting  from  his  mule,  took  forth  a  cord  of  silk, 
and  said:  "O  Joudar,  do  with  me  as  thou  didst  with 
both  of  them."  Thereupon  Joudar  tied  his  hands  be- 


The  Two  Sons  of  the  Red  King    1 2  i 

hind  his  back,  and  pushed  him  so  that  he  fell  into  the 
lake;  and  stood  waiting  for  him. 

And,  lo,  the  African  put  forth  his  hands  saying: 
"Cast  the  net,  O  poor  man!"  And  Joudar  cast  his  net 
over  him,  and  drew  it;  and,  behold,  the  African  was 
grasping  in  each  hand  a  fish  red  as  coral!  As  soon  as 
he  stood  upon  land  he  said  to  Joudar:  "Take  from  my 
saddle-bags  two  little  boxes  and  open  them."  Joudar 
did  so,  and  the  African  put  into  each  box  a  red  fish,  and 
shut  the  covers.  He  then  pressed  Joudar  to  his  bosom, 
and  kissed  him,  saying:  "May  Allah  deliver  thee  from 
all  evil!  Verily,  if  thou  hadst  not  cast  the  net  over  me 
and  drawn  me  out,  I  had  drowned."  "O  my  master  the 
pilgrim,  "said  Joudar,  "I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that 
thou  acquaint  me  with  the  affair  of  the  two  Africans 
that  were  drowned,  and  tell  me  the  true  history  of 
these  two  red  fishes." 

The  African  accordingly  said:  "O  Joudar,  know  that 
the  two  who  were  drowned  were  my  brothers,  and  the 
Jew  is  our  brother:  he  is  not  really  a  Jew,  but  a  Mo- 
hammetan.  Our  father  was  a  magician,  and  taught  us 
the  arts  of  solving  mysteries  and  opening  hidden  treas- 
ures and  employing  enchantments.  Our  father  died, 
and  we  divided  his  riches  and  talismans,  until  we  came 
to  his  books.  There  was  among  them  a  volume  en- 
titled: 'The  Stories  of  the  Ancients'  the  like  of  which 
doth  not  exist!  It  is  priceless,  for  in  it  are  accounts  of 
all  hidden  treasures  and  many  mysteries  and  magic 
arts.  A  dissension  arose  between  us  as  to  who  should 
own  this  book. 

"Our  father's  sheikh,  the  Diviner  Elabtan,  who  was 
present,  said:  'Give  me  "The  Stories  of  the  Ancients!"' 
So  we  gave  him  the  book,  and  he  said:  'Ye  cannot  all 


122  Story   of  Joudar 

possess  this  volume,  and  it  is  impossible  that  I  should 
give  it  to  any  one  of  you  without  the  consent  of  the 
others.  Therefore,  let  him  who  desireth  this  go  and 
open  the  hidden  treasure  of  Shamardal,  and  bring  me 
thence  the  celestial  planisphere,  the  pot  of  magic  oint- 
ment, and  the  seal-ring  and  the  sword.  For  the  seal- 
ring  is  served  by  a  Genie  whose  name  is  Radelcasif; 
and  whosoever  possesseth  it  neither  King  nor  Sultan 
can  prevail  against  him.  As  for  the  sword,  if  it  be  drawn 
against  an  army,  and  its  bearer  shake  it  and  say: 
"Slay  this  army"  a  flash  of  lightning  will  proceed  from 
the  sword  and  the  whole  army  will  be  destroyed.  And 
as  for  the  celestial  planisphere,  whosoever  possesseth 
it,  he  may,  if  he  desire,  behold  any  quarter  of  the  world 
by  turning  the  face  of  the  planisphere  towards  it.  More- 
over, if  he  be  angry  at  a  city  and  turn  the  face  of  the 
planisphere  toward  the  sun,  the  city  will  be  burned. 
As  for  the  pot  of  magic  ointment,  whosoever  applieth 
a  little  of  the  ointment  to  his  eyes  he  will  see  all  the 
treasures  of  the  earth.  'Now,'  continued  the  Diviner 
Elabtan,  'I  have  a  condition  to  propose  to  you.  Who- 
soever is  unable  to  open  this  treasure  of  Shamardal  he 
shall  not  have  the  book,  but  he  who  openeth  the  treas- 
ure, and  bringeth  me  these  four  wonders,  he  shall  take 
the  book.' — and  we  consented  to  this  condition. 

"Then  said  the  Diviner  Elabtan:  'O  my  sons,  know 
that  the  hidden  treasure  of  Shamardal  is  under  the 
dominion  of  the  two  Sons  of  the  Red  King  of  the  Genii, 
and  that  your  father  strove  to  open  the  treasure  but 
was  unable  to  do  so  because  the  two  Sons  of  the  Red 
King  fled  before  him  to  a  lake  in  the  Land  of  Egypt, 
called  the  Lake  of  Karoun.  He  pursued  them  into 
Egypt  but  could  not  prevail  against  them  for  the 


The  Two  Sons  of  the  Red  King    123 

lake  was  guarded  by  a  talisman.  He  had  recourse  to 
all  his  magic  arts,  and  employed  enchantments,  but 
returned  overcome,  since  he  could  not  open  the  treas- 
ure of  Shamardal.  I  made  for  him  an  astrological  cal- 
culation, and  saw  that  this  treasure  could  not  be  opened 
without  the  aid  of  a  young  man,  Joudar  the  son  of 
Omar  of  Cairo;  for  by  his  means  alone,  might  the  Sons 
of  the  Red  King  be  seized.  I  also  perceived  that  the 
young  man  would  be  a  fisherman,  and  that  he  would  be 
found  by  the  Lake  of  Karoun,  and  that  the  charm  would 
not  be  dissolved  until  Joudar  should  bind  the  arms  of 
the  seeker  after  the  treasure,  behind  his  back,  and 
throw  him  into  the  lake.  Whereupon  the  seeker  after 
the  treasure  would  have  to  contend  with  the  Sons  of 
the  Red  King;  and  if  he  should  be  overcome  his  feet 
would  come  forth  from  the  water,  if,  however,  he 
should  be  victorious,  his  hands  would  appear,  Then 
Joudar  would  cast  the  net  over  him,  and  draw  him 
forth  from  the  lake.' 

"The  Diviner  Elabtan  having  finished  his  narrative," 
continued  the  African,  "two  of  my  brothers  said: 
'We  will  go,  though  we  perish,'  and  I  said:  'I  will  go 
also!'  but  our  other  brother  said:  'I  have  no  desire  to 
go  on  this  adventure.'  Thereupon  we  three  agreed 
that  he  should  repair  to  Cairo  in  the  disguise  of  a 
Jewish  merchant,  in  order  that  if  one  of  us  should  die 
in  the  lake,  he  might  receive  the  mule  and  saddle-bags 
from  Joudar,  and  give  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold. 
'Know,  then,  O  Joudar,'  said  the  African,  'when  my 
first  brother  was  thrown  into  the  lake,  the  Sons  of  the 
Red  King  slew  him,  and  they  slew  my  second  brother 
also;  but  they  could  not  prevail  against  me,  so  I  seized 
them."' 


124  Story   of  Joudar 

"And  where,"  asked  Joudar,  "are  these  Sons  of  the 
Red  King?"  "Didst  thou  not  see  them?"  asked  the 
African.  "I  have  them  imprisoned  in  these  two  little 
boxes."  "But,"  said  Joudar,  "these  are  fishes." 
"Nay,"  answered  the  African,  "these  are  not  fishes. 
Verily  they  are  Af rites  in  the  form  of  fishes.  But, 
know,  O  Joudar,  that  the  treasure  cannot  be  opened 
except  by  thy  means.  Wilt  thou  then  undertake  this 
adventure,  and  go  with  me  to  the  City  of  Fez  and 
Mequinez,  and  open  the  treasure?  If  so  I  will  give 
thee  whatever  thou  shalt  desire,  and  afterward  thou 
shalt  return  to  thy  family  joyful  and  wealthy." 

And  Joudar  answered:  "O  my  master  the  pilgrim, 
I  have  a  mother  and  two  brothers  whom  I  must  pro- 
vide with  bread  and  meat.  If  I  go  with  thee  who  will 
give  them  food  to  eat?"  But  the  African  said:  "Here 
are  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  take  them  and  give  them 
to  thy  mother  that  she  may  expend  them  until  thou 
shalt  return  to  thy  country.  Thou  shalt  return  before 
the  end  of  four  months."  So  the  African  gave  Joudar 
the  gold,  and  he  took  it  and  went  to  his  mother,  and 
told  her  all  that  had  happened,  and  gave  her  the  gold, 
saying:  "The  African  is  a  good  man,  and  I  will  go  with 
him,  and  be  absent  four  months,  and  abundant  good 
fortune  will  betide  me;  so  pray  for  me,  O  my  mother! 
No  harm  will  befall  him  whom  Allah  preserveth!" 
And  his  mother  answered,  saying:  "May  Allah  incline 
this  African's  heart  to  thee.  Go  with  him,  O  my  son. 
Perhaps  he  may  bring  thee  good  fortune." 


Hidden  Treasure  of  Shamardal    125 


THE  HIDDEN  TREASURE  OF  SHAMARDAL 

|OUDAR,  therefore,  bade  farewell  to  his  mother, 
and  went  forth.  When  he  came  to  the  African 
the  latter  said  to  him:  "Hast  thou  consulted  thy 
mother?"  "Yes,"  answered  Joudar,  "and  she 
prayed  for  me."  "Then  mount  behind  me," 
answered  the  African.  So  he  got  upon  the  back 
of  the  mule,  and  they  journeyed  from  noon  to  the  time 
of  afternoon-prayers,  when  Joudar  was  hungry,  and  he 
saw  that  the  African  had  no  food  with  him.  So  he 
said:  "O  my  master  the  pilgrim,  hast  thou  forgotten 
to  bring  with  thee  anything  to  eat  on  the  way?" 

The  African,  without  answering,  'dismounted  from 
the  mule,  and  bade  Joudar  alight.  He  then  removed 
the  saddle-bags  from  the  back  of  the  mule  and  said: 
"I  conjure  thee  that  thou  tell  me  everything  thou  de- 
sirest  to  eat."  "I  wish  naught  but  bread  and  cheese," 
replied  Joudar.  "O  poor  man,"  said  the  African, 
"bread  and  cheese  are  not  enough,  demand  something 
good.  Dost  thou  like  browned  chicken?  and  rice  and 
l\pney?" — and  the  African  continued  to  name  different 
kinds  of  dishes  of  food,  until  he  had  named  twenty. 
But  Joudar  said  within  himself:  "Verily  this  man  is 
mad.  Whence  can  he  bring  me  all  these  dishes  of  food, 
seeing  that  he  hath  neither  kitchen  nor  cook!" 

But  the  African  took  hold  of  the  saddle-bags,  and 
said:  "O  Servant  of  these  saddle-bags,  bring  me 
browned  chicken,"  and  he  put  his  hand  into  one  of  the 
bags,  and,  lo,  he  drew  forth  a  dish  of  gold  containing 
two  browned,  hot  chickens.  Then  he  put  his  hand  in 


126  Story   of  Joudar 

a  second  time  and  took  out  a  dish  of  gold  containing 
stuffed  ribs  of  lamb.  And  he  ceased  not  to  take  forth 
dishes  from  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  until  he  had  drawn 
forth  four  and  twenty  golden  dishes  full  of  the  most 
delicious  foods.  And  Joudar  was  filled  with  wonder  at 
this  sight.  Then  said  the  African:  "Eat,  poor  man." 
And  Joudar  answered:  "O  my  master,  dost  thou  keep 
in  this  pair  of  saddle-bags  a  kitchen  and  a  cook?" 

The  African  laughed,  and  replied:  "They  are  en- 
chanted, having  an  Afrite  for  a  servant.  And  were  we 
to  demand  every  hour  a  thousand  dishes,  the  Afrite 
would  bring  them  immediately."  Then  they  ate  until 
they  were  satisfied,  after  which  the  African  replaced 
the  empty  dishes  in  the  saddle-bags,  and  having  put 
in  his  hand  took  forth  a  ewer  of  water  and  a  basin,  and 
they  both  washed  their  hands,  and  recited  the  after- 
noon prayers.  Then  the  African  put  back  the  ewer  and 
basin  into  the  bags,  which  he  placed  once  more  on  the 
back  of  the  mule,  saying:  "Know,  O  Joudar,  that  we 
have  traversed  the  space  of  a  whole  month's  journey; 
for  the  mule  that  carries  us  is  one  of  the  Marids  of  the 
Genii.  He  is  able  to  travel  a  year's  journey  in  a  day. 
Let  us  now  mount  and  proceed  on  our  way." 

So  they  mounted  and  journeyed  on  until  sunset. 
When  they  halted  in  the  evening  the  African  took  forth 
from  the  saddle-bags  the  supper;  and  in  the  morning 
he  took  forth  the  breakfast.  And  so  they  continued  to 
do  for  a  period  of  two  days,  journeying  until  midnight, 
and  alighting  and  sleeping,  and  proceeding  in  the  morn- 
ing. And  all  that  Joudar  desired  to  eat  he  asked  of  the 
African,  who  drew  it  from  the  pair  of  saddle-bags. 
And  on  the  fifth  day  they  arrived  at  Fez  and  Mequinez. 

They  entered  the  City,  and  every  one  who  met  the 


Hidden  Treasure  of  Shamardal    127 

African  saluted  him,  and  kissed  his  hand.  Thus  they 
proceeded  until  they  came  to  a  door,  at  which  the 
African  knocked;  and,  lo,  the  door  opened  and  there 
came  forth  from  it  a  most  beautiful  damsel.  "O  my 
daughter,"  said  the  African,  "open  the  pavilion." 
She  answered:  "I  hear  and  obey,"  and  entering,  led  the 
way  to  a  pavilion,  which  she  opened.  Then  the  Afri- 
can took  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  from  the  back  of  the 
mule,  saying:  "Depart,  O  Marid  of  the  Genii,  and 
may  Allah  bless  thee."  And  instantly  the  ground  clove 
asunder,  and  the  mule  descended  into  the  earth,  which 
immediately  closed  over  it. 

The  African  then  led  Joudar  into  the  pavilion,  and 
he  beheld  there  an  abundance  of  rich  furniture,  and 
rarities,  and  jewels,  and  articles  of  gold  and  silver. 
After  they  had  seated  themselves  the  damsel  brought 
a  robe  worth  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to 
Joudar:  "Put  this  on,  O  my  master,  and  welcome  to 
thee."  So  he  put  on  the  robe,  and  was  clad  like  one  of 
the  Kings  of  the  West.  After  which  the  African  placed 
the  saddle-bags  before  him,  and  putting  in  his  hand, 
drew  forth  forty  different  dishes  of  gold  containing 
the  most  delicious  viands,  and  they  feasted  together. 
And  they  continued  to  reside  in  the  pavilion  for  the 
period  of  twenty  days.  Every  morning  the  African 
clad  Joudar  in  a  rich  dress,  and  fed  him  with  food  from 
the  saddle-bags. 

On  the  one  and  twentieth  day,  the  African  said: 
"O  Joudar,  let  us  arise;  for  this  is  the  day  decreed  for 
the  opening  of  the  treasure  of  Shamardal."  So  they 
arose  and  left  the  city.  And  they  mounted  each  upon 
a  mule,  and  rode  forth.  And  they  ceased  not  to  journey 
until  noon,  when  they  came  to  a  river  of  running  water. 


128  Story   of  Joudar 

There  the  African  alighted  and  making  a  sign  with  his 
hands  two  slaves  appeared.  And  he  took  from  them 
a  tent,  which  he  pitched,  and  mattresses  and  pillows. 
Then  one  of  the  slaves  brought  the  two  little  boxes  in 
which  were  the  two  red  fishes,  and  the  other  brought 
the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  The  African  drew  forth  a 
dinner  from  the  saddle-bags  and  they  dined. 

Then  he  took  the  two  little  boxes  and  recited  a  charm 
over  them,  and  the  red  fishes  within  the  boxes  began 
to  entreat  him,  saying:  "We  are  at  thy  service,  O  Di- 
viner of  the  World!  We  pray  thee  have  mercy  upon 
us!"  But  the  African  recited  another  charm,  and  the 
two  little  boxes  burst  into  many  pieces,  and  from  their 
fragments  arose  two  strange  beings  with  their  liands 
bound  behind  them.  And  they  cried  out:  "O  spare  us! 
spare  us!  Diviner  of  the  World!  What  dost  thou  desire 
to  do  unto  us?"  "My  desire,"  said  the  African,  "is  to 
burn  you  unless  ye  promise  me  to  open  the  treasure  of 
Shamardal."  "We  promise  thee  to  open  the  treasure," 
they  replied,  "on  the  condition  that  thou  bringest  us 
here  Joudar  the  fisherman;  for  the  treasure  cannot  be 
opened  without  his  aid,  and  no  one  can  enter  except 
Joudar  the  son  of  Omar."  And  the  African  answered: 
"O  ye  Sons  of  the  Red  King,  I  have  brought  hither 
Joudar  the  son  of  Omar,  and  he  standeth  here." 

Thereupon  they  promised  to  open  the  treasure,  and 
the  African  released  their  hands  and  they  instantly 
vanished.  Then  he  took  forth  a  tube,  and  some  tablets 
of  red  carnelian,  which  he  placed  upon  the  tube.  And 
he  took  a  perfuming-vessel,  put  into  it  some  charcoal 
and  kindled  it.  And,  having  made  ready  the  incense, 
he  said  to  Joudar:  "I  will  recite  the  charm  and  throw 
the  incense  on  the  fire.  When  I  have  begun  my  incan- 


Hidden  Treasure  of  Shamardal    129 

tation  I  cannot  speak  to  thee  for  the  charm  would  be 
broken,  therefore  I  must  tell  thee  beforehand  what  thou 
must  do  to  attain  the  treasure. 

"Know,  then,"  said  he,  "that  w^en  I  have  recited 
the  charm,  and  thrown  on  the  incense,  the  water  will 
dry  up  from  the  river-bed,  and  there  \v^l  appear  a 
door  of  gold,  the  size  of  the  city-gate,  and  n;  it  two 
rings  of  metal.  Descend  to  the  door,  knock  Ox.  it 
lightly,  and  wait  a  while.  Soon  thou  wilt  hear  some 
one  say:  'Who  knocketh  at  the  Door  of  the  Treasures 
and  knoweth  not  how  to  solve  the  mysteries?'  Then 
thou  must  answer:  'I  am  Joudar  the  fisherman,  the  son 
of  Omar.'  Thereupon  a  being  will  open  the  door,  and 
come  out  unto  thee  with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and 
say:  'If  thou  be  that  man,  stretch  forth  thy  neck  that 
I  may  smite  off  thy  head.'  Then  do  thou  stretch  forth 
thy  neck,  and  fear  not,  for  when  he  smiteth  thee,  he 
will  fall  down  before  thee  a  body  without  a  soul,  and  no 
harm  shall  befall  thee.  But  if  thou  oppose  him,  he 
will  slay  thee. 

"And  after  thou  hast  broken  this  enchantment  by 
obedience,  enter  the  door  of  gold  and  walk  on  until 
thou  comest  to  another  door,  and  knock  on  that.  Im- 
mediately there  will  come  forth  a  man  riding  on  a  horse, 
and  having  upon  his  shoulder  a  spear,  and  he  will  say: 
'What  hath  brought  thee  unto  this  place,  which  neither 
mankind  nor  the  Genii  enter?'  And  he  will  shake  his 
spear  at  thee;  but  open  thy  bosom  to  him,  and  he  will 
smite  thee.  No  harm  shall  befall  thee,  but  he  will 
fall  down  before  thee  a  body  without  a  soul.  If  thou 
oppose  him,  he  will  slay  thee. 

"Then  enter  a  third  door.  There  will  come  forth  to 
thee  a  son  of  Adam  having  in  his  hand  a  bow  and 


130  Story   of  Joudar 


arrow,  and  he  will  shoot  at  thee;  but  do  thou  open  thy 
bosom  to  him,  and  he  will  smite  thee,  and  fall  down 
before  thee  a  body  without  a  soul.  But  if  thou  oppose 
him,  he  will  slay  t^e. 

"Next  enter  tLe  fourth  door.  There  will  come  forth 
to  thee  a  hy0^  lion,  that  will  rush  upon  thee  with  open 
moutht  Yet  fear  thou  not  nor  flee  from  him;  but  when 
he  Cometh  up  to  thee  give  him  thy  hand,  and  when  he 
biteth  at  thy  hand  he  will  fall  down  instantly,  and 
naught  shall  befall  thee. 

"After  this  enter  the  fifth  door.  There  will  come 
forth  to  thee  a  black  slave  who  will  say:  *  Who  art  thou?' 
Answer  him:  'Joudar.'  And  he  will  say  to  thee:  'If 
thou  be  that  man  enter  the  sixth  door.'  Advance 
therefore  to  the  sixth  door,  and  say :  '  O  Isa,  tell  Mousa 
to  open  the  door.'  Whereupon  the  door  will  open,  and 
do  thou  enter.  Thou  wilt  see  two  serpents,  one  of  them 
on  the  left  of  the  door,  and  the  other  on  the  right. 
Each  of  them  will  open  his  mouth,  and  they  will  dart 
upon  thee  instantly,  Stretch  forth  thy  two  hands, 
and  each  of  them  will  bite  at  a  hand,  and  no  harm  shall 
befall  thee.  But  if  thou  oppose  them  they  will  kill 
thee. 

"Then  approach  the  seventh  door  and  knock  on  it. 
The  likeness  of  thy  mother  will  come  forth  to  thee,  and 
say:  'Welcome,  O  my  son!  advance  that  I  may  em- 
brace thee.'  But  do  thou  reply:  'Keep  far  from  me,' 
for  know  if  thou  permit  her  to  embrace  thee  thou  wilt 
die.  Look  on  the  wall  at  thy  right,  and  thou  wilt  see 
a  sword  suspended  there.  So  take  it,  and  draw  it  upon 
her,  and  she  will  fall  down,  and  immediately  all  the 
enchantments  will  be  broken,  and  the  talismans  an- 
nulled, and  thou  wilt  be  safe. 


I 


LO,  THE  WATER  VANISHED  AND  THEY  SAW  A  GOLDEN  DOOR 


Hidden  Treasure  of  Shamardal    131 

"So  enter  and  thou  wilt  find  a  large  treasury  filled 
with  heaps  of  red  gold.  Pay  no  regard  to  the  gold, 
but  look  toward  the  upper  end  of  the  treasury  where 
thou  wilt  perceive  a  curtain  hanging  before  a  door. 
Lift  the  curtain  and  thou  wilt  see  the  Diviner  Shamardal 
lying  upon  a  couch  of  gold,  having  at  his  head  something 
round  and  shining  like  the  moon:  it  is  the  celestial 
planisphere.  At  the  Diviner's  side  is  hung  the  sword, 
and  upon  his  finger  is  the  seal-ring,  and  on  his  neck  is  a 
chain  to  which  is  attached  the  pot  of  magic  ointment. 
Bring  therefore  these  four  wonders  to  me;  and  beware 
lest  thou  forget  the  least  of  my  instructions,  for  if 
thou  act  contrary  to  them  misfortune  and  sorrow  will 
overtake  thee." 

Then  the  African  repeated  his  directions  a  second, 
and  a  third,  and  a  fourth  time,  until  at  last  Joudar 
said:  "Verily  who  is  able  to  face  these  talismans,  and 
to  endure  these  great  horrors?"  But  the  African  an- 
swered: "O  Joudar,  fear  not;  for  they  are  bodies  with- 
out souls,"  and  he  proceeded  to  encourage  him.  So 
Joudar  said:  "I  rely  upon  Allah!" 

Then  the  African  threw  on  the  incense,  and  recited 
the  charm,  and,  lo,  the  water  vanished,  and  the  bottom 
of  the  river  appeared,  and  they  saw  a  golden  door. 
Joudar  descended  to  the  door,  and  knocked,  and  he 
heard  a  voice  say:  "Who  knocketh  at  the  Door  of  the 
Treasures,  and  knoweth  not  how  to  solve  the  myster- 
ies?" So  he  answered:  "I  am  Joudar,  son  of  Omar." 
And  upon  this  the  door  opened,  and  a  being  came  forth, 
and  drew  a  sword,  saying:  "Stretch  forth  thy  neck." 
Accordingly,  he  stretched  forth  his  neck,  and  the  being 
smote  him,  and  fell  down  dead.  In  like  manner  did 
Joudar  at  the  second,  and  the  third,  and  the  fourth 


132  Story  of  Joudar 

door,  and  so  on,  until  he  had  broken  the  enchantments 
and  annulled  the  talismans  of  six  of  the  seven  doors. 

He  then  knocked  at  the  seventh  door,  and  the  like- 
ness of  his  mother  came  forth  to  him,  saying:  "Wel- 
come, O  my  son!  advance  that  I  may  embrace  thee," 
and  he  said  to  her  as  the  African  had  directed  him. 
"O  my  son,"  she  answered,  "is  thy  heart  stone?  Am 
I  not  thy  mother,  and  dost  thou  not  love  me?"  And 
she  continued  to  reproach  him,  until  his  heart  smote 
him,  and  he  embraced  her.  Immediately  the  likeness 
of  his  mother  cried  out:  "He  hath  erred!  There- 
fore, O  ye  Servants  of  the  Treasure,  beat  him!  beat 
him!"  And  instantly  there  fell  upon  him  heavy  blows 
like  hail,  for  the  Servants  of  the  Treasure  gath- 
ered about  him  and  beat  him;  after  which  they  pushed 
him,  and  cast  him  forth  outside  the  door  of  gold.  The 
African  instantly  drew  him  out  of  the  river-bed,  and 
the  door  closed  and  the  water  flowed  as  before. 

"O  wretched  man!"  exclaimed  the  African.  "What 
hast  thou  done?"  Joudar  therefore  told  him  all  that 
had  happened  "And  did  I  not  say  to  thee,"  said  the 
African,  "act  not  contrary  to  my  directions?  Thou 
hast  done  harm  to  me  and  to  thyself.  But  now  thou 
must  remain  with  me  until  next  year."  And  he  called 
immediately  to  his  two  slaves;  who  forthwith  struck 
the  tent  and  carried  it  away.  In  a  little  while  they  re- 
turned with  the  two  mules;  and  the  African  and  Joudar 
mounted,  and  journeyed  to  the  City  of  Fez. 

Joudar  remained  for  the  period  of  a  year  with  the 
African,  eating  and  drinking  and  making  merry,  and 
every  day  he  was  clad  in  a  rich  dress.  At  the  end  of  the 
year  the  African  said:  "This  is  the  day  appointed  to 
open  the  treasure,  so  let  us  depart."  They  therefore 


Hidden  Treasure  of  Shamardal    133 

mounted  their  mules,  and  rode  until  they  arrived  at 
the  river.  The  two  slaves  pitched  the  tent,  and  the 
African  took  forth  the  saddle-bags  and  they  dined. 
After  this  he  kindled  the  fire,  made  ready  the  incense, 
and  said:  "O  Joudar,  dost  thou  remember  my  instruc- 
tions?" And  Joudar  answered:  "Yes."  Then  said 
the  African:  "Keep  thy  self-possession,  and  imagine 
not  that  the  woman  is  thy  mother;  for  she  is  only  a 
talisman  in  the  likeness  of  thy  mother.  This  time  if 
thou  err,  the  Servants  of  the  Treasure  will  slay  thee." 
"If  I  err,"  replied  Joudar,  "I  shall  deserve  their  burn- 
ing me." 

Then  the  African  put  the  incense  on  the  fire,  and 
recited  the  charm,  and  the  river  dried  up.  So  Joudar 
advanced  to  the  door,  and  knocked  on  it,  whereupon 
it  opened  and  he  annulled  the  talisman  as  before;  and 
so  he  continued  to  do  until  he  approached  the  seventh 
door.  He  knocked  on  the  door,  and  the  likeness  of  his 
mother  came  forth  to  him,  and  said:  "Welcome,  O  my 
son!  advance  that  I  may  embrace  thee."  But  Joudar 
replied:  "O  thou  accursed!  How  should  I  be  thy  son!" 
and  he  took  the  sword  from  the  wall  and  made  as  if  to 
strike  her.  Immediately  she  fell  down  before  him,  a 
body  without  a  soul. 

Joudar  then  entered  the  treasury,  and  saw  the  gold 
in  heaps,  but  paid  no  regard  to  it.  He  lifted  the  cur- 
tain at  the  end  of  the  treasury,  and  beheld  the  Diviner 
Shamardal  lying  upon  a  couch  of  gold,  with  the  sword 
by  his  side,  the  seal-ring  upon  his  finger,  and  the  pot 
of  magic  ointment  upon  his  bosom;  and  he  saw  the 
celestial  planisphere  at  his  head.  So  Joudar  advanced 
and  loosed  the  sword,  and  took  the  seal-ring,  and  the 
celestial  planisphere,  and  the  pot  of  magic  ointment, 


134  Story   of  Joudar 

and  went  forth.  And,  lo,  musical  instruments  began 
to  sound,  and  the  Servants  of  the  Treasure  cried  out: 
"Honour  to  thee,  O  Joudar!  Mayest  thou  enjoy  that 
which  thou  hast  obtained!"  and  the  musical  instru- 
ments continued  to  sound  until  he  went  forth  from  the 
treasure. 

And  when  the  African  saw  him,  he  ceased  from  recit- 
ing the  charm,  and  rising  pressed  him  to  his  bosom,  and 
Joudar  gave  him  the  four  wonders.  So  the  African 
took  them,  and  called  out  to  the  slaves,  who  forthwith 
struck  the  tent,  and  carried  it  away.  After  which  the 
African  and  Joudar  mounted  their  mules,  and  returned 
to  the  City  of  Fez. 


THE  ENCHANTED  SADDLE-BAGS 


?HEN  said  the  African  to  Joudar:  "Thou  didst 
quit  thy  land  and  people  on  my  account;  and 
thou  hast  opened  the  hidden  treasure  of  the  Di- 
viner Shamardal;  wherefore  I  desire  to  reward 
thee.    Demand  what  thou  wishest,  and  be  not 
afraid  since  thou  deservest  a  great  gift,  and 
Allah,  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  will  reward  thee  by 
my  means."     "O  my  master,"  replied  Joudar,  "I  de- 
sire of  Allah,  and  of  thee  that  thou  give  me  this  pair 
of  enchanted  saddle-bags."    "Take  them,"  replied  the 
African,   "they  are  thy  due,  and  hadst  thou  asked 
for  anything  else,  I  would  have  given  it  to  thee.     But 
since   these  saddle-bags  will  provide  thee  with  food 
only,  I  will  give  thee  another  pair  of  saddle-bags  full 
of  gold  and  jewels.    Then  I  will  have  thee  conveyed  to 
thy  country,  where  thou  shalt  become  a  great  merchant. 


The   Enchanted   Saddle-Bags    135 

Eat  them  and  thy  family  from  these  saddle-bags;  and 
when  them  desirest  food  put  thy  hand  in,  and  say: 
'By  the  Great  Names  that  have  influence  over  thee, 
O  Servant  of  these  saddle-bags,  bring  me  such  and  such 
a  dish.'  Thereupon  he  will  bring  thee  what  thou  de- 
mandest,  even  if  thou  demand  every  day  a  thousand 
dishes  of  food." 

Then  the  African  caused  his  slaves  to  bring  a  mule, 
and  filled  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  half  with  gold  and  half 
with  jewels,  and  said:  "Mount,  O  Joudar,  and  this 
slave  will  walk  before  thee  until  thou  comest  to  the  door 
of  thy  house.  When  thou  art  arrived  at  thy  dwelling, 
take  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags,  and  give  the  slave 
the  mule,  and  he  will  bring  it  back  to  me.  Let  not  any 
one  know  thy  secret.  And  I  now  commit  thee  to  Allah." 
And  Joudar  replied:  "May  Allah  increase  thy  pros- 
perity!" 

So  he  put  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags  upon  the  mule, 
and  mounted;  and  the  slave  walked  before  him.  The 
mule  followed  the  slave  that  day,  and  all  the  following 
night;  and  on  the  second  day  in  the  morning,  Joudar 
entered  the  Gate  of  Victory,  where  he  saw  his  mother 
begging  from  the  passers-by,  saying:  "Something  for 
the  sake  of  Allah! "  And  when  Joudar  saw  her,  anguish 
filled  his  heart,  and  he  alighted  from  the  back  of  the 
mule,  and  threw  himself  upon  her;  and  when  she  saw 
him  she  wept.  Then  he  placed  her  on  the  mule,  and 
walked  by  her  stirrup  until  they  arrived  at  his  house. 
t  He  set  down  his  mother,  took  the  two  pairs  of  saddle- 
bags, and  gave  the  mule  to  the  slave,  who  received  it 
and  vanished;  for  the  slave  was  a  Marid  and  the  mule 
was  a  Marid. 

And  when  Joudar  had  entered  the  house,  he  said: 


136  Story   of  Joudar 


"O  my  mother,  why  dost  thou  beg?  Before  I  departed 
I  gave  thee  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold."  "O  my  son," 
she  answered,  "know  that  thy  brothers  came  and  stole 
the  gold  from  me,  and  turned  me  out  of  the  house.  I 
have  had  to  beg  because  of  the  violence  of  my  hunger. 
Arise,  my  son,  and  bring  me  some  bread,  for  I  have 
passed  the  whole  day  since  yesterday  without  food." 
And  Joudar  laughed  and  said:  "Behold,  O  my  mother, 
these  saddle-bags,  they  are  full  of  gold  and  jewels! 
therefore  thou  needest  suffer  no  more  anxiety.  As  for 
food,  ask  for  anything,  and  I  will  bring  it  to  thee  at 
once.  I  need  not  to  go  to  the  market,  nor  have  I  any 
cook!  For  from  this  other  pair  of  saddle-bags  I  will 
take  whatever  food  thou  desirest."  "Give  me,  then,  O 
my  son,"  answered  his  mother,  "some  hot  bread  and  a 
piece  of  cheese."  "Wouldst  thou  not  prefer,"  said 
Joudar,  "some  browned  chicken  and  boiled  rice  with  salt 
and  pepper,  and  sausages,  and  stuffed  gourds,  and  stuffed 
lamb,  and  stuffed  ribs  of  lamb,  and  pastry  made  with 
broken  almonds  and  hazel-nuts,  and  honey  and  sugar?" 
His  mother  thought  that  he  was  laughing  at  her,  so 
she  said:  "What  hath  happened  to  thee?  Dost  thou 
dream,  or  hast  thou  become  mad?"  But  Joudar  an- 
swered her,  saying:  "O  my  mother,  know  that  the 
African  gave  me  this  pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  they  are 
enchanted.  If  thou  desire  anything  to  eat,  say,  'By 
the  Great  Names  that  have  influence  over  thee,  O 
Servant  of  these  saddle-bags,  bring  me  such  a  dish,' — 
and  he  will  bring  it."  So  his  mother  stretched  forth 
her  hand,  and  said  the  words,  and  put  in  her  hand  and 
drew  forth  a  dish  of  delicate  stuffed  ribs  of  lamb. 
Then  she  demanded  bread,  and  everything  that  she 
desired.  And  Joudar  said:  "When  thou  hast  finished 


The   Enchanted   Saddle-Bags    137 

eating  put  back  the  dishes  into  the  bags,  for  the  charm 
is  on  this  condition,  and  take  care  of  the  pair  of  saddle- 
bags, and  when  my  brothers  come  feed  them;  but  it 
will  be  well  to  conceal  our  secret  from  them." 

And,  lo,  as  they  were  eating  his  two  brothers  came 
in  to  him;  for  a  neighbour  had  said  to  them:  "Your 
brother  Joudar  hath  come,  mounted  on  a  mule,  with  a 
slave  before  him,  and  wearing  a  magnificent  dress." 
So  Salim  said  to  Selim:  "Would  that  we  had  not  ill- 
treated  our  mother.  She  will  tell  Joudar,  and  he  will 
have  nothing  to  do  with  us."  But  Selim  answered: 
"Our  mother  is  tender-hearted,  and  our  brother  is 
more  tender-hearted  than  she,  and  when  we  excuse 
ourselves  he  will  forgive  us."  So  they  went  in  to  him, 
and  he  arose  and  welcomed  them  and  said:  "Sit  and 
eat."  So  they  sat  and  ate,  for  they  were  weak  from 
hunger.  "Return,"  said  he,  "at  the  time  of  supper, 
and  there  shall  be  more  set  before  you  than  this." 

And  in  the  evening  Joudar  entered  a  private  room, 
and  took  forth  from  the  saddle-bags  forty  different 
dishes  of  delicious  food;  after  which  he  went  into  the 
room  where  sat  his  two  brothers  and  said  to  his  mother: 
"Bring  the  supper."  She  entered  the  private  room, 
and  saw  the  forty  dishes  full,  and  she  brought  them  in 
one  after  the  other  and  placed  them  before  her  sons, 
and  they  did  eat.  On  the  following  day  they  break- 
fasted in  the  same  manner;  and  they  continued  to  live 
after  this  fashion  for  the  period  of  ten  days. 

Then  Salem  said  to  Selim:  "How  can  our  brother 
feast  us  with  every  good  thing  three  times  a  day? 
Whence  cometh  this  prosperity?  We  never  see  him  buy 
anything,  nor  doth  he  light  a  fire,  nor  hath  he  either 
kitchen  or  cook."  "Our  mother,"  answered  Selim, 


138  Story   of  Joudar 


"will  acquaint  us  with  the  cause  of  all  this."  They 
therefore  went  to  their  mother  during  the  absence  of 
their  brother,  and  said:  "Whence  doth  our  brother 
Joudar  obtain  all  this  food?"  And  she  answered: 
"From  a  pair  of  enchanted  saddle-bags.  But  conceal 
this  secret,  and  let  not  your  brother  know  that  I  have 
told  you." 

So  when  Salim  and  Selim  knew  about  the  saddle- 
bags they  straightway  conspired  against  Joudar,  and 
going  to  a  Captain  of  the  Sea  of  Suez,  they  sold  to  him 
their  brother  for  forty  pieces  of  gold.  And  when  night 
was  come  they  fell  upon  Joudar  when  he  slept,  and 
gagged  his  mouth,  and  bound  his  hands,  and  carried 
him  away  under  cover  of  the  night,  and  delivered  him 
to  the  Captain.  And  the  sailors  put  chains  on  his  feet, 
and  caused  him  to  serve  as  a  slave  for  a  whole  year, — 
such  was  the  case  of  Joudar. 

But  as  to  his  two  brothers,  they  returned  to  the 
house,  and  stole  the  enchanted  saddle-bags,  and  the 
ones  full  of  gold  and  jewels,  and  ill-treated  their  mother, 
and  turned  her  out  of  the  house.  And  the  two  brothers 
contended  together  over  the  division  of  the  gold  and 
jewels,  and  the  enchanted  saddle-bags,  and  a  neighbour 
heard  the  whole  of  the  dispute  and  the  words  they 
uttered.  And  when  morning  was  come  the  neighbour 
went  to  the  King  of  Egypt,  and  acquainted  him  with 
all  that  he  had  heard.  Whereupon  the  King  sent  for 
the  two  brothers  of  Joudar,  and  caused  them  to  confess 
their  ill  deeds,  and  he  put  them  in  prison.  Then  he 
assigned  to  the  mother  of  Joudar  a  daily  allowance  so 
that  she  might  live  comfortably.  And  the  two  pairs 
of  saddle-bags  he  placed  in  his  treasury.  Thus  did  it 
happen  to  Salim  and  Selim. 


The   Genie   of  the   Seal-Ring    139 


THE  GENIE  OF  THE  SEAL-RING 

OW  as  to  Joudar,  he  remained  a  whole  year 
serving  as  a  slave;  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
there  arose  a  great  wind  which  cast  the  ship 
upon  a  mountain,  and  broke  it  in  pieces,  and 
all  that  were  in  it  were  drowned  except  Joudar. 
He  was  cast  on  the  shore,  and  journeyed 
night  and  day  until  he  came  to  Mecca.  And,  lo, 
while  he  was  in  the  temple,  he  beheld  the  African 
who  was  performing  the  pilgrimage.  And  when  the 
African  saw  him,  he  saluted  him,  and  embraced 
him.  And  Joudar  told  him  all  that  had  befallen  him 
from  first  to  last.  Upon  this  the  African  took  him  to 
his  house,  and  treated  him  with  honour,  and  clad  him 
in  a  dress  of  which  there  existed  not  an  equal.  And  he 
said:  "O  Joudar,  I  know  by  my  magic  art,  that  thy 
two  brothers  are  confined  in  the  prison  of  the  King  of 
Egypt.  Do  thou  remain  with  me  until  we  have  ac- 
complished the  rites  of  the  pilgrimage.  And  afterwards 
will  I  convey  thee  in  safety  to  Cairo." 

So  Joudar  remained  until  the  pilgrimage  was  accom- 
plished, and  then  the  African  gave  him  the  seal-ring 
that  he  had  taken  forth  from  the  treasure  of  Shamardal, 
and  said:  "Take  this  seal-ring.  It  hath  an  attendant 
Genie  whose  name  is  Radelcasif .  When  thou  requirest 
anything,  rub  the  ring  and  the  Genie  will  appear  before 
thee;  and  whatever  thou  shalt  command  him  to  do, 
he  will  do  it  for  thee."  Then  the  African  rubbed  the 
ring,  and  instantly  the  Genie  appeared  and  said:  "At 
thy  service,  O  my  master!  What  dost  thou  demand? 


140  Story  of  Joudar 


Wouldst  thou  that  I  ruin  a  city,  or  slay  a  King  or  rout 
an  army?"  The  African  replied:  "O  Raad,  this  man 
hath  become  thy  master,  so  act  well  by  him."  Then 
he  dismissed  the  Genie,  and  said  to  Joudar:  "When 
thou  wishest  anything,  rub  the  ring  and  the  Genie 
will  appear,  and  command  thou  him  to  do  what  thou 
desirest,  and  he  will  obey  thee  in  all  things.  Repair 
now  to  thy  country,  and  take  care  of  the  ring.  Rub  it 
and  when  the  Genie  appeareth  mount  thou  upon  his 
back,  and  say  to  him,  *  Convey  me  to  Cairo/ — he  will 
not  disobey  thy  command." 

So  Joudar  bade  the  African  farewell,  and  rubbed  the 
seal-ring.  Instantly  Radelcasif  presented  himself,  say- 
ing, "At  thy  service!  Demand  and  it  shall  be  given 
thee."  "Convey  me,"  replied  Joudar,  "to  Cairo  this 
day."  So  the  Genie  took  him  up,  and  flew  with  him 
from  the  time  of  noon  until  midnight,  when  he  alighted 
in  the  court  of  the  house  of  Joudar's  mother;  and  the 
Genie  set  him  down  and  departed. 

And  when  his  mother  saw  him,  she  arose  and  saluted 
him,  and  wept,  and  told  him  how  the  King  had  im- 
prisoned his  two  brothers,  and  taken  the  pair  of  en- 
chanted saddle-bags,  and  the  saddle-bags  containing 
the  gold  and  jewels.  And  when  Joudar  heard  this 
he  bade  his  mother  cease  grieving,  and,  taking  the  seal- 
ring,  rubbed  it.  Instantly  the  Genie  appeared  before 
him,  saying:  "At  thy  service!  Demand  and  it  shall 
be  given  thee."  "I  command  thee,"  replied  Joudar, 
"to  bring  me  my  two  brothers  from  the  King's  prison." 
So  the  Genie  descended  into  the  earth,  and  came  up  in 
the  midst  of  the  prison. 

Now  Salim  and  Selim  were  groaning  and  in  great 
misery,  when,  lo,  the  earth  clove  asunder,  and  the 


The  Genie  of  the  Seal-Ring   141 

Genie  Radelcasif  came  forth,  and,  taking  them  both 
up,  descended  again  into  the  earth.  They  swooned 
from  fear,  and  when  they  recovered  they  found  them- 
selves in  the  house  of  their  mother,  their  brother  Joudar 
sitting  by  her  side. 

"Welcome,  O  my  brothers,"  said  Joudar.  Upon 
this  Salim  and  Selim  hung  their  heads  toward  the 
ground  and  began  to  weep,  but  Joudar  said:  "Weep  not, 
for  the  Devil  and  covetousness  caused  you  to  do  evil. 
How  could  ye  sell  me?  But  I  will  remember  the  gener- 
osity of  Joseph;  for  his  brothers  did  unto  him  worse 
than  ye  did  unto  me,  since  they  cast  him  into  a  pit. 
Turn  ye  with  repentance  unto  Allah,  and  beg  his  for- 
giveness, and  He  will  forgive  you;  for  He  is  the  Abun- 
dant in  forgiveness,  the  Merciful.  I  have  pardoned 
you." 

Then  Joudar  related  to  them  all  that  he  had  suffered 
when  a  slave,  and  how  he  had  met  the  African,  inform- 
ing them  also  of  the  seal-ring.  Then  he  rubbed  the  ring, 
and  the  Genie  instantly  presented  himself  before  him. 
"I  command  thee,"  said  Joudar,  "to  bring  me  the 
enchanted  saddle-bags,  and  the  saddle-bags  full  of  gold 
and  jewels,  which  are  in  the  treasury  of  the  King." 
And  the  Genie  answered:  "I  hear  and  obey."  And  he 
immediately  descended  through  the  earth,  and  brought 
from  the  treasury  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags,  and 
placed  them  before  Joudar.  Upon  this  Joudar  told 
his  mother  to  take  care  of  the  saddle-bags  filled  with 
gold  and  jewels;  then  he  said  to  the  Genie:  "I  command 
thee  to  build  for  me,  this  night,  a  lofty  palace,  and  to 
decorate  it  with  liquid  gold,  and  to  furnish  it  magnifi- 
cently." The  Genie  replied:  "I  hear  and  obey."  And 
he  descended  into  the  earth.  Then  Joudar  took  forth 


142  Story   of  Joudar 


viands  from  the  enchanted  saddle-bags,  and  they  ate 
and  enjoyed  themselves,  and  slept. 

But  as  to  the  Genie  he  collected  his  Marids  and  or- 
dered them  to  build  the  palace.  So  some  of  them  be- 
gan to  hew  the  stones,  and  some  to  build,  and  some  to 
paint,  and  some  to  prepare  the  magnificent  furniture; 
and  when  daylight  came  the  palace  was  completed. 
The  Genie  then  went  to  Joudar,  and  said:  "O  my 
master,  the  palace  is  finished,  and  its  order  is  perfect. 
Wilt  thou  come  and  view  it  for  thyself?"  So  Joudar 
went  forth  with  his  mother  and  two  brothers,  and  saw 
that  the  palace  was  so  beautiful  that  there  existed  not 
the  like.  And  Joudar  was  delighted,  and  he  said  to 
his  mother:  "Wilt  thou  reside  in  this  palace  with  me?" 
And  she  answered:  "O  my  son,  I  will  reside  in  it." 

Then  Joudar  rubbed  the  seal-ring,  whereat  the  Genie 
appeared,  saying:  "At  thy  service,  O  my  master." 
And  Joudar  said:  "I  command  thee  to  bring  me  forty 
beautiful  slave-girls,  and  forty  black  slave-girls,  and 
forty  memlooks,  and  forty  male  black  slaves.  And  the 
Genie  replied :  " It  shall  be  done."  And  he  repaired  with 
his  Marids  to  the  countries  of  India  and  Persia,  and 
wherever  they  saw  a  beautiful  damsel,  they  carried 
her  off.  And  when  they  saw  a  young  man,  they  carried 
him  off.  And  the  Genie  brought  the  damsels  and  the 
young  men  together  with  forty  elegant  black  slave- 
girls,  and  forty  black  male  slaves.  And  they  came  to 
the  abode  of  Joudar  and  filled  it. 

Then  said  Joudar  to  the  Genie:  "Bring  magnificent 
apparel  for  all  these  slaves,  and  bring  a  dress  of  cloth- 
of-gold  for  my  mother."  So  the  Genie  brought  them. 
And  Joudar  clad  himself  and  his  brothers  in  apparel 
fit  for  Kings.  His  house  was  large  so  he  lodged  his 


The   Genie   of  the   Seal-Ring    143 

brothers  there,  and  he  and  his  mother  resided  in  the 
new  palace.  Such  was  the  case  with  Joudar  and  his 
brothers. 

As  to  the  treasurer  of  the  King,  he  desired  to  take 
something  from  the  treasury,  and  on  entering  it  he  saw 
that  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags  were  gone.  Upon 
this  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon, 
and  when  he  recovered  he  went  forth  from  the  treasury, 
and  going  unto  the  King  said:  "O  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, the  saddle-bags  have  been  stolen."  "Who  hath 
entered  my  treasury  and  stolen  the  saddle-bags?" 
said  the  King,  and  he  became  violently  enraged.  He 
then  went  forth  and  held  his  court,  and  the  great 
officers  of  the  army  came,  and  he  said:  "O  soldiers, 
know  that  my  treasury  hath  been  plundered  during  the 
night,  and  I  know  not  who  hath  done  this  deed,  and 
feared  me  not." 

All  the  soldiers  wondered  at  these  words,  and  while 
they  were  considering  the  matter,  the  neighbour  of 
Joudar,  who  had  betrayed  Salim  and  Selim,  came  in 
to  the  King  and  said:  "O  King  of  the  age,  I  have  seen 
this  night  a  palace  constructed,  the  like  of  which  ex- 
isteth  not!  I  am  told  that  Joudar  the  son  of  Omar 
hath  returned  and  built  this  palace,  and  with  him  are 
memlooks  and  black  slaves.  He  hath  brought  with 
him  abundance  of  riches,  and  hath  delivered  his  two 
brothers  from  prison,  and  is  now  living  in  his  palace 
like  a  Sultan."  So  the  King  said:  "Examine  the 
prison."  And  they  examined  it  and  found  not  Salim 
and  Selim. 

Then  said  the  King:  "Verily  this  Joudar  hath  broken 
into  my  treasure  house;  it  is  he  who  hath  delivered 
Salim  and  Selim  from  the  prison,  and  hath  taken  the 


144  Story   of  Joudar 


two  pairs  of  saddle-bags.  Go,  therefore,  O  Vizier, 
and  send  an  Emir  with  fifty  men  to  seize  him  and  his 
two  brothers,  and  bring  them  to  me  that  I  may  hang 
them."  But  the  Vizier  answered:  "Be  thou  merciful, 
for  Allah  is  merciful.  He  is  not  hasty  toward  his  serv- 
ants who  disobey  Him.  This  man  Joudar  hath  builded 
a  palace  in  one  night,  and  I  fear  lest  he  harm  the  Emir. 
Therefore,  O  King  of  the  age,  send  and  invite  him  to  a 
feast,  and  show  friendship  to  him,  and  ask  him  whence 
he  hath  received  his  power  and  riches."  And  the  King 
said:  "Send  and  invite  him." 

Accordingly  the  Vizier  ordered  an  Emir  with  fifty 
men  to  go  to  Joudar  and  summon  him  to  the  feast. 
Now  that  Emir  was  stupid  and  haughty,  and  when  he 
arrived  at  Joudar's  palace,  he  saw  before  the  door  a 
eunuch  sitting  upon  a  chair,  who  rose  not  nor  saluted 
the  Emir  and  his  troop.  "O  slave,"  said  the  Emir, 
"where  is  thy  master? "  "In  the  palace,"  answered  the 
eunuch,  without  rising.  At  this  the  Emir  was  filled 
with  rage,  and,  lifting  his  mace,  was  about  to  beat  him, 
not  knowing  that  he  was  a  Marid  of  the  Genii.  But 
the  eunuch  arose,  and  rushing  upon  him,  took  the 
mace  from  him,  and  struck  him  four  blows.  He  then 
fell  with  such  violence  upon  the  servants  of  the  Emir, 
that  they  fled  before  him.  After  which  he  returned  and 
seated  himself  again  before  the  palace  door. 

As  to  the  Emir  and  his  company,  they  returned 
routed  and  beaten,  and  told  the  King  all  that  had  hap- 
pened. And  the  King  was  enraged,  and  said:  "Send 
a  hundred  men  against  this  eunuch ! "  And  the  hundred 
men  went  down  and  returned  routed.  Then  said  the 
King:  "Let  two  hundred  go  down."  And  two  hundred 
men  went  down,  and  returned  routed.  "O  Vizier," 


The   Genie  of  the  Seal-Ring    145 

said  the  King,  "go  down  quickly  with  five  hundred 
men,  and  bring  me  this  eunuch  together  with  his 
master  Joudar  and  his  two  brothers."  But  the  Vizier 
replied:  "O  King  of  the  age,  I  need  no  soldiers;  but  I 
will  go  alone  without  weapon."  And  the  King  said: 
"Go,  and  do  what  thou  shalt  see  fit  to  do." 

So  the  Vizier  threw  aside  his  weapon,  clad  himself 
in  a  white  garment,  and,  going  alone,  arrived  at  the 
palace  of  Joudar,  where  he  saw  the  slave  sitting  before 
the  door.  The  Vizier  approached  and  seated  himself 
beside  the  eunuch,  and  said:  "Peace  be  on  thee!"  and 
the  slave  replied:  "And  on  thee  be  peace,  O  human 
being!  What  dost  thou  desire?"  And  when  the  Vizier 
heard  him  say  "O  human  being,"  he  knew  that  he  was 
a  Genie,  and  he  trembled  with  fear.  "O  my  master," 
said  he,  "is  thy  master  Joudar  here?  If  so,  go  and  say 
to  him:  'The  King  sendeth  thee  greetings,  and  bid- 
deth  thee  eat  of  his  banquet."1  And  the  slave  replied: 
"Stay  thou  here  until  I  consult  him."  Accordingly 
the  Vizier  with  a  respectful  manner  remained  before 
the  door,  and  the  Marid  went  into  the  palace  and  told 
Joudar  all  that  had  happened. 

And  Joudar  commanded  the  Marid  to  bring  the 
Vizier  to  him,  and  he  did  so.  And  when  the  Vizier 
came  into  the  hall,  he  saw  Joudar  to  be  greater  than 
the  King,  and  to  be  seated  upon  a  couch  the  like  of 
which  the  King  did  not  possess.  He  was  filled  with 
wonder  by  the  beauty  of  the  palace,  and  by  its  paint- 
ings and  furniture.  He  kissed  the  ground  before 
Joudar  and  said:  "The  King,  thy  friend,  greeteth  thee 
with  peace,  and  is  desirous  of  beholding  thy  face,  and 
hath  made  for  thee  a  banquet.  Wilt  thou  then  come 
and  comfort  his  heart?"  "Since  he  is  my  friend," 


146  Story   of  Joudar 


replied  Joudar,  "salute  him,  and  tell  him  to  come  unto 
me."  Then  he  took  the  seal-ring,  and  rubbed  it,  and 
instantly  the  Genie  presented  himself,  and  Joudar  said : 
"Bring  me  a  magnificent  robe."  The  Genie  did  so, 
and  Joudar  presented  it  to  the  Vizier  who  clad  himself 
in  it,  and  then  returned  to  the  King  and  informed  him 
of  all  that  had  happened. 

The  King  immediately  called  for  his  horse  and  at- 
tendants, and  rode  to  Joudar's  palace.  And  when  he 
perceived  the  troops  of  soldiers  and  slaves,  and  the 
magnificence  of  the  palace  he  was  overcome  with 
wonder.  And  he  entered  and  came  into  the  presence 
of  Joudar,  whom  he  saw  sitting  in  a  state  greater  than 
that  of  King  or  Sultan.  Therefore  he  saluted  Joudar 
with  all  respect,  but  Joudar  rose  not  to  receive  him, 
nor  paid  him  honour,  nor  did  he  bid  him  be  seated, 
but  left  him  standing  till  fear  seized  him.  Then  said 
Joudar:  "O  King  of  the  age,  is  it  well  for  thee  to  tyran- 
nize over  men,  and  to  take  their  goods  by  force?" 
"O  my  master,"  replied  the  King,  "blame  me  not! 
Covetousness  made  me  do  this  evil  act!  Forgive  me, 
for  were  it  not  for  offense  there  were  no  such  thing  as 
forgiveness!"  And  he  ceased  not  to  humble  himself 
before  Joudar,  until  the  latter  said:  "May  Allah  pardon 
thee!"  and  ordered  him  to  sit  down. 

So  the  King  sat  down,  and  Joudar  commanded  his 
two  brothers  to  set  food  before  him,  and  when  they 
had  all  eaten  he  clad  the  King's  company  in  magnifi- 
cent robes,  and  treated  them  with  honour.  And  then 
he  ordered  the  King  to  depart  to  his  own  palace. 
And  every  day  after  that  the  King  used  to  go  to  Joudar's 
abode  and  hold  his  court.  And  their  friendship  in- 
creased, and  they  continued  awhile  in  this  state. 


The   Genie   of  the   Seal-Ring    147 

But  the  King  was  troubled  in  his  heart  lest  Joudar 
should  slay  him  and  take  the  Kingdom,  and  he  told 
this  to  the  Vizier.  "O  King  of  the  age,"  replied  he, 
"fear  not.  The  state  which  Joudar  enjoyeth  is  greater 
than  that  of  any  King  or  Sultan,  and  the  taking  of  the 
Kingdom  would  lower  his  dignity.  Thou  hast  a  daugh- 
ter, so  marry  her  to  him,  and  thou  and  he  will  have  one 
interest.  Invite  him  to  an  entertainment  at  thy  palace, 
and  command  thy  daughter  to  adorn  herself  in  the 
most  magnificent  manner  and  to  pass  by  the  door  of 
the  apartment  in  which  thou  and  Joudar  will  sit. 
When  he  seeth  her,  he  will  love  her  and  demand  her 
3f  thee  in  marriage.  When  he  is  married  to  the  damsel 
thou  and  he  will  be  one,  and  he  will  not  injure  thee." 
"Thou  hast  spoken  the  truth,  O  Vizier,"  answered 
the  King,  "go  and  prepare  the  entertainment,  and  in- 
cite him." 

So  Joudar  came  to  the  King's  palace,  and  they 
feasted  and  conversed  until  the  close  of  day,  when  the 
damsel  passed  by  the  door  of  the  apartment.  And  she 
was  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  having  no 
3qual.  And  Joudar  saw  her,  and  his  heart  was  filled 
with  love,  and  he  said  to  the  Vizier:  "Whose  daughter 
is  this  damsel?  She  hath  captivated  me,  and  deprived 
me  of  my  reason!"  And  the  Vizier  answered:  "This 
is  the  Lady  Asiya,  the  daughter  of  thy  friend  the  King. 
[f  she  please  thee  speak  with  the  King  that  he  may 
marry  her  to  thee."  And  Joudar  did  so,  and  the  King 
consented,  saying:  "Behold  the  damsel  is  thy  slave- 
*irl.  I  will  marry  her  to  thee,  and  thou  wilt  do  me  a 
;avour  by  accepting  her." 

They  passed  that  night,  and  the  King  rose  in  the 
norning  and  held  his  court,  and  performed  the  cere- 


148  Story   of  Joudar 

mony  of  the  marriage  contract;  and  Joudar  gave  the 
King  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  filled  with  jewels  and  gold 
as  the  dowry  of  the  damsel.  The  drums  were  beaten, 
and  the  pipes  sounded,  and  Joudar  took  the  Lady  Asiya 
as  his  wife.  Thus  he  and  the  King  became  one,  and 
they  all  lived  together  happily  for  some  days,  when  the 
King  died.  Thereupon  the  troops  chose  Joudar  as 
King,  and  he  made  his  two  brothers  Viziers, — Salim 
the  Vizier  of  his  right  hand,  and  Selim  the  Vizier  of 
his  left,  and  they  remained  thus  one  year  and  no  more. 

As  for  Salim  and  Selim,  at  the  end  of  the  year,  they 
treacherously  conspired  against  their  brother  Joudar, 
but  the  judgment  of  Allah  fell  upon  them,  and  they 
died  miserably. 

As  for  Joudar  and  the  Lady  Asiya,  they  ceased  not 
to  live  in  a  state  of  the  most  perfect  happiness  and 
glory,  enjoying  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  life,  until  they 
were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights,  and  the 
separator  of  companions. 

And  this  is  the  end  of  the  story  of  Joudar,  and  Allah 
is  all-knowing! 


Chapter  IV 


STORY  OF  MAHOMED  ALI  THE  JEW- 
ELLER, OR  THE  FALSE  CALIPH 

THE  ROYAL  BARK 
T  is  related  that  the  Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid 


was  troubled  one  night  with  great  restlessness, 
and  summoning  his  Vizier  Jaafar  he  said  to  him: 


"I  am  wakeful,  and  desire  to  amuse  myself  this 
night  in  the  streets  of  Bagdad;  so  let  us  disguise 
ourselves  as  merchants  and  go  forth."  And  the 
Vizier  answered:  "I  hear  and  obey."  They  arose 
immediately,  and  having  pulled  off  the  magnificent 
apparel  with  which  they  were  clad,  put  on  the  attire 
of  merchants.  And  they  went  forth  from  the  palace 
attended  by  Mesrour  the  chief  executioner. 

They  walked  from  place  to  place  until  they  arrived 
at  the  River  Tigris,  where  they  saw  an  old  man  sitting 
in  a  boat.  "O  sheikh,"  said  the  Caliph,  "wilt  thou 
take  us  out  on  the  river  in  this  thy  boat?  If  so  receive 
this  piece  of  gold  as  thy  hire."  But  the  sheikh  an- 
swered: "Verily  no  one  can  amuse  himself  here!  for 
know  that  the  Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid  embarketh 
every  night  on  the  River  Tigris  on  board  a  small  vessel. 
He  is  attended  by  a  crier  who  proclaimeth :  '  O  all  ye  men 
great  and  small,  noble  or  common,  whosoever  embark- 

149 


150    Mahomed   Ali  the  Jeweller 

eth  in  a  vessel  upon  the  River  Tigris,  I  will  strike  off  his 
head,  or  hang  him  upon  the  mast  of  his  vessel!' — Ye 
have  almost  met  him,  for  his  bark  is  approaching  now." 

So  the  Caliph  and  Jaafar  said:  "O  sheikh,  take  these 
two  pieces  of  gold  and  convey  us  into  one  of  those 
arches,  where  we  may  be  hidden  until  the  bark  of  the 
Caliph  hath  passed."  "Give  me  the  gold,"  replied 
the  sheikh,  "and  our  reliance  be  upon  Allah,  whose 
name  be  exalted!"  He  took  the  gold,  set  his  boat 
afloat  and  proceeded  a  little  way,  when,  lo,  the  bark 
approached  them  and  in  it  were  lighted  candles  and 
torches.  "Did  I  not  tell  you,"  said  the  sheikh,  "that 
the  Caliph  passeth  along  the  river  every  night!"  And 
he  pushed  the  boat  under  an  arch,  and  covered  the 
three  men  with  a  black  cloth,  from  beneath  which  they 
gazed  with  curiosity. 

They  beheld  at  the  head  of  the  bark  a  man  holding 
a  torch  of  red  gold, ion  which  he  was  burning  aloes- 
wood.  He  wore  a  vest  of  red  satin,  and  a  garment  of 
yellow  embroidered  stuff.  Upon  one  shoulder  he 
carried  a  green  silk  bag  full  of  aloes-wood,  from  which 
he  supplied  the  torch  from  time  to  time.  At  the  stern 
of  the  bark  they  beheld  another  man  clad  like  the 
former,  and  having  in  his  hand  a  similar  torch.  And 
there  were  in  the  bark  two  hundred  memlooks  stand- 
ing about  a  throne  of  red  gold  upon  which  was  sitting 
a  handsome  young  man,  beautiful  as  the  moon,  clad 
in  a  black  garment  embroidered  with  yellow  gold. 
Before  him  stood  a  man  resembling  the  Vizier  Jaafar, 
and  behind  him  stood  a  eunuch  like  Mesrour,  with  a 
drawn  sword  in  his  hand.  And  they  saw  moreover 
twenty  boon-companions. 

When  the  Caliph  beheld  this,  he  said:  "0  Jaafar, 


'WHOSOEVER  EMBARKETH   IX  A  VESSEL  UPON  THE  RIVER  TIGRIS, 
I  WILL  STRIKE  OFF  HIS  HEAD!" 


The   Royal   Bark  151 

this  is  doubtless  one  of  my  sons,  Mamoun  or  Elemeen." 
And  he  continued  gazing  at  the  young  man  as  he  sat 
upon  the  throne,  and  saw  him  to  be  of  great  beauty, 
loveliness,  and  perfection  of  stature.  "O  Vizier,"  he 
said:  "verily  this  young  man  hath  not  omitted  any- 
thing that  belongeth  to  the  state  of  the  Caliph.  He  who 
is  standing  before  him  is  like  thyself,  O  Jaafar;  and  the 
eunuch  who  is  behind  him  is  like  Mesrour;  and  these 
boon-companions  are  as  though  they  were  my  boon- 
companions.  My  reason  is  confounded  by  this  sight. 
Verily  I  am  full  of  wonder  at  this  event,  O  Jaafar!" 
"And  I  also,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,"  replied  Jaafar. 

The  bark  then  passed  on  until  it  disappeared,  where- 
upon the  sheikh  put  forth  his  boat  from  under  the 
arch  saying:  "Praise  be  to  Allah  for  our  safety,  and 
that  no  harm  hath  befallen  us!"  And  the  Caliph  said: 
"O  sheikh,  doth  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  every  night 
embark  upon  the  Tigris?"  "Yes,  O  my  master,"  an- 
swered the  sheikh,  "and  for  a  whole  year  he  hath  con- 
tinued to  do  so."  "O  sheikh,"  said  the  Caliph,  "if 
thou  wilt  wait  for  us  here  to-morrow  night,  we  will  give 
thee  five  pieces  of  gold."  The  sheikh  replied:  "I  hear 
and  obey." 

Then  the  Caliph,  Jaafar,  and  Mesrour  departed  and 
returned  to  the  palace,  and,  having  taken  off  their 
merchants5  attire  and  put  on  apparel  of  state,  each 
seated  himself  in  his  place.  The  Emirs  and  Viziers 
came  in,  and  the  chamberlains  and  lieutenants,  and 
the  council  was  fully  attended.  And  when  the  day 
closed,  and  the  people  had  dispersed,  the  Caliph  Haroun 
Er  Raschid  said:  "O  Jaafar,  arise  and  go  with  us  that 
we  may  amuse  ourselves  with  the  sight  of  the  other 
Caliph!"  Whereupon  Jaafar  and  Mesrour  laughed. 


152    Mahomed   All  the  Jeweller 

They  clad  themselves  again  in  the  attire  of  merchants, 
and  went  forth  and  pursued  their  way  to  the  River 
Tigris.  When  they  arrived  there  they  found  the  sheikh 
waiting  for  them  in  his  boat.  So  they  embarked  with 
him,  and  they  had  not  sat  long  under  the  arch,  when 
the  bark  of  the  False  Caliph  approached  them.  And 
the  Caliph  said:  "O  Vizier,  if  I  had  not  seen  this 
wonder  with  mine  own  eyes  I  would  not  believe  it!" 
He  then  said  to  the  owner  of  the  boat:  "O  sheikh,  take 
these  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and  follow  the  bark;  the  people 
in  it  are  in  the  light  and  we  are  in  the  dark,  so  we  shall 
see  them,  but  they  will  not  see  us." 

The  sheikh  therefore  took  the  gold,  and,  steering 
his  boat  into  the  gloom  that  surrounded  the  bark  of 
the  False  Caliph,  he  followed  after  until  they  came  to 
a  garden  enclosed  by  a  high  wall  in  which  there  was  a 
wide  gate.  Here  the  bark  of  the  False  Caliph  anchored; 
and,  lo,  a  number  of  young  men  were  standing  on  the 
bank  with  a  mule  saddled  and  bridled.  The  False 
Caliph  having  landed,  mounted  the  mule,  and  proceeded 
in  the  midst  of  his  boon-companions;  the  torch- 
bearers  shouting,  and  the  household-attendants  busy- 
ing themselves  in  waiting  upon  their  master. 

Haroun  Er  Raschid  then  landed,  together  with 
Jaafar  and  Mesrour,  and  they  made  their  way  through 
the  crowdvof  memlooks.  But  when  the  torch-bearers 
beheld  three  strangers  clad  in  the  dress  of  merchants, 
they  caused  them  to  be  seized  and  taken  before  the 
False  Caliph;  who  when  he  saw  them  asked:  "How 
came  ye  to  this  place,  and  what  brought  you  at  this 
time?"  And  they  answered:  "O  our  lord,  lo,  we  came 
forth  to-night  to  amuse  ourselves  on  the  river,  and  thou 
didst  approach  and  we  followed  thee.  This  is  our  story." 


The   Royal   Bark  153 

And  the  False  Caliph  said:  "No  harm  shall  befall  you, 
seeing  that  ye  are  strangers  here."  Then  looking 
toward  his  Vizier,  he  said:  "Take  these  persons  with 
thee;  they  are  our  guests  for  to-night."  And  the 
Vizier  answered:  "I  hear  and  obey." 

After  this  the  False  Caliph  proceeded  surrounded  by 
his  attendants,  until  they  arrived  at  a  lofty  and  grand 
palace  the  like  of  which  was  never  seen,  rising  from 
the  earth  to  the  clouds.  Its  door  was  of  carved  wood, 
adorned  with  brilliant  gold,  and  through  this  door  one 
passed  into  a  saloon  in  which  was  a  fountain;  and  the 
floor  was  covered  with  rich  carpets.  The  furniture 
was  most  magnificent,  and  the  couches  and  pillows 
covered  with  brocade.  Over  the  door  of  the  saloon 
were  inscribed  these  verses: 

"This  palace, — on  which  be  blessing  and  peace, — 
Fortune  hath  invested  with  its  loveliness. 
In  it  are  varieties  of  wonders  and  rarities, 
The  beauty  of  which  one  cannot  describe!" 

The  False  Caliph  having  entered  together  with  the 
company,  seated  himself  upon  a  throne  of  jewelled 
gold,  upon  which  was  a  carpet  of  yellow  silk.  When 
the  boon-companions  had  taken  their  places,  and  the 
executioner  had  stationed  himself  before  the  throne, 
the  servants  spread  the  table  with  the  most  delicious 
viands,  and  the  party  ate.  The  dishes  were  then  re- 
moved and  the  hands  washed,  and  the  attendants 
brought  in  the  wine.  The  bottles  and  cups  were  passed 
around  until  they  came  to  the  Caliph  Haroun  Er 
Raschid,  but  he  refused  to  drink.  "Wherefore  doth 
not  thy  companion  drink?"  said  the  False  Caliph  to 
Jaafar.  "O  my  lord,"  replied  Jaafar,  "he  never  drink- 


154    Mahomed   Ali   the  Jeweller 

eth  wine."  "I  have  another  beverage  suitable  to 
him,"  said  the  False  Caliph,  "and  it  is  a  kind  of  cider." 
And  he  gave  orders  to  bring  it.  The  attendants  brought 
it  immediately,  and  while  the  others  drank  of  the  wine, 
the  Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid  drank  of  the  cider. 

And  when  the  Caliph  beheld  all  this  wealth  and  feast- 
ing, he  said  to  his  Vizier:  "O  Jaafar,  would  that  I 
knew  the  history  of  this  young  man."  And  while  they 
were  talking  together  privately,  the  False  Caliph  cast 
a  glance  toward  them,  and  found  Jaafar  whispering  to 
the  Caliph,  so  he  said:  "Whispering  is  an  act  of  rude- 
ness." "No  rudeness  is  intended,"  replied  Jaafar, 
"but  this  my  companion  saith:  *  Verily  I  have  travelled 
into  most  countries,  and  feasted  with  the  greatest  of 
Kings,  and  have  been  entertained  by  warriors,  yet 
never  have  I  seen  a  more  sumptuous  feast  than  this 
one,  nor  have  I  ever  passed  a  more  joyous  night  than 
the  present.  The  only  thing  lacking  is  music!" 

The  False  Caliph  at  these  words  smiled.  He  struck 
a  round  cushion  with  a  rod,  whereupon  a  door  opened 
and  there  came  forth  a  eunuch  bearing  a  throne  of 
ivory  inlaid  with  brilliant  gold.  He  was  followed  by 
a  damsel  of  surpassing  beauty  and  grace.  The  eunuch 
placed  the  throne  upon  a  carpet,  and  the  damsel  seated 
herself  upon  it.  In  her  hand  was  a  lute,  and  she  placed 
it  in  her  lap,  and,  leaning  over  it  as  the  mother  leaneth 
over  her  child,  sang  to  it.  She  played  over  four  and 
twenty  airs,  so  that  she  ravished  the  minds  of  her 
hearers.  She  then  sang  some  verses,  and  when  the 
False  Caliph  heard  them  he  uttered  a  great  cry  and 
rent  his  garments,  whereupon  a  curtain  was  let  down 
over  him,  and  the  attendants  brought  him  other  rai- 
ment, more  handsome  than  the  former,  and  he  put  it  on. 


The   Royal   Bark  155 

He  then  sat  as  before,  and  when  the  wine  came  to  him 
he  again  struck  the  round  cushion  with  the  rod,  and, 
lo,  a  door  opened  and  there  came  forth  a  eunuch  bear- 
ing a  throne  of  gold,  and  behind  him  was  a  damsel  more 
beautiful  than  the  first  one.  She  seated  herself  upon 
the  throne,  and  sang  two  verses.  And  when  the  False 
Caliph  heard  these  he  again  uttered  a  great  cry  and 
tore  his  clothes,  and  the  curtain  was  let  down  over  him, 
and  the  attendants  brought  him  another  suit,  which  he 
put  on. 

Then  composing  himself,  he  resumed  his  former  state, 
and  conversed  cheerfully.  When  the  cup  came  to  him, 
he  struck  the  round  cushion,  whereupon  the  door 
opened  and  there  came  forth  a  page  magnificently  clad, 
bearing  a  throne.  And  behind  him  was  a  damsel  more 
beautiful  than  the  other  two.  She  seated  herself  upon 
the  throne,  and  taking  a  lute,  tuned  it  and  sang  two 
verses.  And  the  False  Caliph,  when  he  heard  the 
damsel's  song,  again  uttered  a  great  cry,  tore  his  clothes, 
and  fell  down  in  a  fit.  And  when  the  attendants  would 
have  let  down  the  curtain,  its  cords  were  immovable, 
and  Haroun  Er  Raschid,  looking  at  the  young  man, 
beheld  upon  his  body  the  marks  of  beatings  with  whips. 
"O  Jaafar,"  said  he  to  his  Vizier,  "verily  he  is  a  comely 
young  man,  but  he  must  be  an  abominable  thief!  Dost 
thou  not  see  the  marks  of  whips  upon  his  sides?" 

Then  the  attendants  let  down  the  curtain  over  their 
master,  and  brought  him  another  suit  of  clothes,  and 
after  he  had  put  it  on  and  composed  himself  upon  his 
throne,  he  looked  toward  the  Caliph  and  Jaafar  and 
saw  them  conversing  together  privately.  "O  ye  two 
young  men,"  said  he,  "what  is  the  news?"  "O  our 
lord,"  replied  Jaafar,  "this  my  companion  saith  that 


156    Mahomed  Ali  the  Jeweller 

he  hath  journeyed  to  all  the  great  cities  and  the  regions 
of  the  earth,  and  hath  associated  with  the  Kings  and 
best  of  men,  but  that  which  hath  been  done  by  our 
lord  the  Caliph  this  night  is  more  wonderful  and  ex- 
travagant than  anything  he  hath  seen  done  in  all  the 
countries  of  the  earth.  For  our  lord  the  Caliph  hath 
rent  three  suits  of  apparel,  each  worth  a  thousand 
pieces  of  gold, — and  this  is  exceeding  extravagance." 
But  the  False  Caliph  replied:  "Verily  the  wealth  is 
mine,  and  the  suits  of  apparel  are  mine.  Every  gar- 
ment I  rend  is  for  one  of  my  boon-companions,  and  I 
have  assigned  with  each  suit  of  apparel,  five  hundred 
pieces  of  gold."  "Verily  most  generous  art  thou,  O  our 
lord,"  said  Jaafar,  and  he  recited  these  verses: 

"The  Virtues  have  built  a  mansion  in  the  midst  of  thy  hand, 
And  thou  hast  made  thy  wealth  common  to  all  men! 
If  the  Virtues  ever  close  their  doors, 
Thy  hands  would  be  a  key  that  would  open  their  locks." 

And  when  the  young  man  heard  these  verses  he  pre- 
sented Jaafar  with  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a 
suit  of  apparel. 

Then  said  Er  Raschid  to  his  Vizier:  "O  Jaafar,  ask 
him  how  the  marks  of  beatings  came  upon  his  sides, 
that  we  may  see  what  he  will  answer."  Upon  this  the 
False  Caliph  looking  toward  the  Vizier,  said:  "Why  do 
thou  and  thy  companion  whisper  together?  I  conjure 
thee  by  Allah  that  thou  tell  me  the  whole  truth  and 
conceal  nothing."  So  the  Vizier  answered:  "O  my  lord, 
this  my  companion  saw  the  marks  of  beatings  upon  thy 
sides,  and  he  saith,  'How  can  the  Caliph  be  beaten?'— 
and  he  desireth  to  know  the  cause." 

And  when  the  young  man  heard  these  words  he 


History   of  the   Lady   Dunya    157 

smiled,  and  said:  "Know  that  my  story  is  wonderful, 
surpassing  all  wonders.  If  then  ye  desire  to  hear  it, 
listen,  and  let  every  one  present  keep  silent.  My  story 
is  this: 

HISTORY  OF  THE  LADY  DUNYA 

[NOW,  O  my  lords,  that  I  am  not  the  Prince  of 
the  Faithful,  but  that  I  have  called  myself 
Caliph  in  order  to  obtain  what  I  desire  from 
the  sons  of  the  city.  In  truth  my  name  is 
Mahomed  Ali,  the  son  of  Ali  the  Jeweller.  My 
father  was  a  nobleman,  and  he  died  and  left 
me  great  wealth  in  gold  and  silver,  and  pearls  and 
coral,  and  rubies  and  chrysolites,  and  other  jewels;  he 
also  left  me  lands  and  houses,  and  fields  and  gardens, 
and  black  male  slaves  and  female  slaves,  and  pages. 

It  happened  one  day  that  I  was  sitting  in  my  shop, 
with  my  servants  and  other  dependants  around  me, 
and,  lo,  a  damsel  approached  me.  She  was  mounted 
on  a  mule,  and  attended  by  three  other  damsels  as 
beautiful  as  the  moon.  She  alighted  at  my  shop,  and, 
seating  herself  beside  me,  said:  "Art  thou  Mahomed 
the  Jeweller?"  "Yes,"  I  answered,  "I  am  he,  thy 
memlook  and  thy  slave."  She  then  asked  to  see  a 
necklace  of  jewels  suitable  to  her  position.  I  had  a 
hundred  necklaces  of  jewels,  and  I  showed  her  all  of 
them,  but  none  of  them  pleased  her.  Now  I  had  a 
small  necklace  of  fine  stones  and  jewels  which  my  father 
had  bought  for  a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
the  like  of  which  existed  not  in  the  whole  world.  I 
showed  her  this,  and  she  said:  "It  is  the  thing  I  have 
wished  for  all  my  life !  What  is  its  price?  "  I  answered : 


158    Mahomed  Ali   the  Jeweller 

"My  father  paid  for  this  a  hundred  thousand  pieces 
of  gold."  "I  will  give  thee  that  price,"  she  answered, 
"and  five  thousand  pieces  of  gold  extra."  So  she  took 
the  necklace  and  mounting  her  mule  quickly,  said: 
"O  my  master,  in  the  name  of  Allah,  do  me  the 
favour  to  accompany  us,  that  thou  mayest  receive  the 
money." 

I  therefore  arose,  and,  having  closed  the  shop,  fol- 
lowed her  until  we  arrived  at  her  house.  It  was  a 
large  and  beautiful  mansion.  Its  door  was  adorned 
with  gold  and  silver  and  blue.  The  damsel  alighted 
and  entered  the  house,  ordering  me  to  seat  myself  upon 
a  bench  at  the  door.  So  I  sat  awhile,  and,  lo,  a  damsel 
came  forth  and  said:  "O  my  master,  enter  the  vestibule, 
for  it  is  not  honourable  for  thee  to  sit  outside."  I  rose, 
and  entered  the  vestibule  where  I  sat  down  upon  a 
wooden  bench.  And  while  I  was  waiting  there,  lo, 
another  damsel  came  and  said  to  me:  "O  my  master, 
my  mistress  wisheth  thee  to  enter  her  apartment  and 
seat  thyself  at  the  door."  I  did  so,  and  saw  in  the 
midst  of  the  apartment  a  throne  of  gold,  with  a  silk 
curtain  over  it.  The  curtain  was  raised  and  I  saw  be- 
neath it,  sitting  on  the  throne,  the  damsel  who  had 
bought  my  necklace. 

And  when  she  beheld  me  she  arose  and  came  toward 
me  saying:  "Knowest  thou  who  I  am?"  I  answered: 
"No."  "I  am,"  said  she,  "the  Lady  Dunya,  the 
daughter  of  Yahya  the  son  of  Kaled  the  Barmecide, 
and  my  brother  is  Jaafar  the  Vizier  of  the  Caliph.  As 
for  thee,  Mohamed  Ali,  no  harm  shall  befall  thee, 
instead  thou  must  attain  to  the  height  of  good  fortune 
by  making  me  thy  wife,  by  the  means  that  Allah 
appro veth."  When  I  heard  these  words  I  rejoiced 


History   of  the   Lady   Dunya    159 

and  my  heart  was  filled  with  love  for  her.  She  there- 
upon summoned  the  Cadi  and  witnesses;  so  they  per- 
formed the  contract  of  my  marriage  to  her,  and  I  took 
her  as  my  wife. 

I  resided  with  her  a  whole  month,  abandoning  my 
shop  and  family  and  home.  One  day  she  said  to  me: 
"O  light  of  the  eye,  O  my  master  Mahomed,  to-day 
I  visit  the  bath,  and  do  thou  remain  upon  this  couch 
and  not  move  from  thy  place  until  I  return."  And 
she  made  me  swear  that  I  would  not  move,  and,  taking 
her  female  slaves  with  her,  she  went  to  the  bath. 

She  had  scarcely  left  me,  when  the  door  opened  and 
there  entered  an  old  woman,  who  said:  "O  my  master 
Mahomed,  the  Lady  Zobeide,  the  wife  of  the  Caliph 
Haroun  Er  Raschid,  hath  heard  of  thy  elegance  and 
the  excellence  of  thy  singing,  and  she  summoneth  thee." 
I  replied:  "Verily  I  will  not  rise  from  my  place  until 
the  Lady  Dunya  cometh."  But  the  old  woman  said: 
"O  my  master,  make  not  the  Lady  Zobeide  thine  enemy 
by  refusing  to  do  her  command.  Rather  arise  and 
answer  her  summons,  and  then  return  to  thy  place." 
So  I  arose  immediately  and  the  old  woman  preceded 
me,  until  she  had  conducted  me  to  the  Lady  Zobeide, 
who  when  she  saw  me  said:  "Art  thou  the  beloved  of 
the  Lady  Dunya?  Surely  he  hath  spoken  the  truth 
who  described  thy  beauty  and  loveliness  and  charm- 
ing qualities!  But  sing  to  me  that  I  may  hear  thee." 
So  I  replied:  "I  hear  and  obey."  And  she  gave  me  the 
lute,  and  I  sang  to  it.  And  when  I  had  finished  the 
Lady  Zobeide  said:  "May  Allah  give  thee  health!  for 
thou  art  perfect  in  beauty  and  in  singing.  And  now 
arise  and  repair  to  thy  place  before  the  Lady  Dunya 
returneth,  lest  she  find  thee  not  and  be  angry." 


160    Mahomed   Ali   the  Jeweller 

So  I  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  went  forth, 
preceded  by  the  old  woman,  until  I  arrived  at  the  door 
of  my  wife's  house.  I  entered  and  went  to  the  couch, 
and  found  that  the  Lady  Dunya  was  returned  from 
the  bath  and  was  lying  upon  the  couch.  I  sat  down  at 
her  feet,  but  she  kicked  me  from  the  couch  saying: 
"O  traitor,  thou  hast  broken  thine  oath,  and  gone  to 
the  Lady  Zobeide!"  She  then  said  to  her  black  slave: 
"O  Sawab,  arise  and  strike  off  the  head  of  this  lying 
traitor,  for  I  am  done  with  him." 

So  the  slave  advanced,  and,  having  bound  my  eyes, 
was  about  to  strike  off  my  head,  but  the  female  slaves, 
great  and  small,  begged  my  wife  to  have  pity  on  me, 
so  that  she  relented  and  said:  "If  I  kill  him  not  I  will 
at  least  cause  him  to  bear  some  marks  of  my  resent- 
ment." Accordingly  she  gave  orders  to  beat  me,  where- 
upon the  slaves  beat  me  on  my  sides,  inflicting  wounds, 
the  scars  of  which  ye  have  beheld.  After  that  she 
commanded  that  I  should  be  turned  out,  and  the 
slaves  carried  me  away  from  the  mansion  and  threw 
me  down  in  the  street.  I  raised  myself  and  walked, 
a  few  steps  at  a  time,  until  I  arrived  at  my  abode. 
Then  I  called  a  surgeon,  who  dressed  my  wounds,  and 
treated  me  with  kindness,  and  cured  me. 

And  when  I  was  recovered  and  had  entered  the  bath, 
I  went  to  my  shop  and  sold  all  the  goods  it  contained. 
I  then  bought  four  hundred  memlooks,  and  every  day 
two  hundred  rode  forth  with  me.  I  also  had  the  bark 
built,  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  pieces  of  gold;  and  I 
called  myself  the  Caliph,  appointing  each  of  my  serv- 
ants to  a  royal  office;  and  I  caused  it  to  be  proclaimed: 
"Whosoever  amuseth  himself  upon  the  River  Tigris, 
I  will  strike  off  his  head  without  delay."  Thus  I  con- 


Conclusion  161 

tinued  to  do  for  a  whole  year,  but  I  have  heard  no 
tidings  of  the  damsel,  nor  seen  any  trace  of  her.  And 
the  young  man  lamented  and  poured  forth  tears. 


CONCLUSION    OF    THE    STORY    OF    MA- 
HOMED ALI  THE  JEWELLER,  OR 
THE  FALSE  CALIPH 

>ND  when  Haroun  Er  Raschid  heard  his  words, 
his  heart  was  filled  with  sorrow  for  him,  and 
he  was  lost  in  wonder.  Then  Jaafar  begged 
leave  to  depart  with  his  companions,  and  the 
young  man  gave  them  permission  to  go.  And 
the  three  proceeded  to  the  palace,  Er  Raschid 
determining  in  his  heart  to  do  the  young  man  justice 
and  to  treat  him  with  great  honour  and  generosity. 
When  they  had  changed  their  clothes  and  put  on  robes 
of  state,  Mesrour  the  chief  executioner  stood  before 
the  throne,  and  the  Caliph  said  to  Jaafar:  "O  Vizier, 
bring  hither  to  me  the  young  man  with  whom  we 
were  last  night."  The  Vizier  answered:  "I  hear  and 
obey."  And  he  repaired  to  the  house  of  the  False 
Caliph  and  said  to  him:  "Answer  the  summons  of  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid." 
So  the  young  man  went  with  him  to  the  palace,  and 
his  heart  was  filled  with  fear  because  of  the  summons. 
He  went  in  to  the  Caliph,  and  kissed  the  ground  before 
him  and  greeted  him  with  a  prayer  for  the  continuance 
of  his  glory  and  prosperity.  And  the  Caliph  smiled 
and  looking  at  him  kindly,  bade  him  draw  near  and 
seat  himself  before  the  throne,  saying:  "O  Mahomed 
Ali,  I  desire  thee  to  relate  all  that  happened  to  thee 


1 62    Mahomed   Ali   the  Jeweller 

last  night!"  The  young  man  replied:  "Pardon,  O 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  I  will  relate  all."  "Thou 
art  pardoned,"  replied  the  Caliph,  "therefore  have  no 
fear."  So  the  young  man  related  all  the  events  that 
had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last. 

Then  said  the  Caliph:  "Dost  thou  desire  me  to 
restore  to  thee  the  Lady  Dunya?"  "Yes,"  replied  the 
young  man,  "and  it  will  be  an  instance  of  the  abundant 
generosity  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful!"  Thereupon 
the  Caliph  said:  "O  Jaafar,  bring  hither  thy  sister  the 
Lady  Dunya,  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  Yahya  the 
son  of  Kaled."  Jaafar  said:  "I  hear  and  obey,"  and 
he  brought  her  immediately.  And  when  she  stood 
before  the  Caliph,  he  said:  "Knowest  thou  this  man?" 
"O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,"  answered  she,  "how  could 
I  know  him?"  And  the  Caliph  smiled  and  said:  "O 
Dunya,  this  is  thy  husband,  Mahomed  Ali  the  Jeweller. 
We  have  heard  the  entire  story  from  its  beginning  to 
its  end;  the  thing  is  not  concealed  though  it  is  veiled." 
"O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,"  replied  the  Lady  Dunya, 
"I  beg  forgiveness  of  Allah  the  Great  for  the  actions 
committed  by  me,  and  request  of  thy  goodness  that 
thou  wilt  pardon  me." 

And  hearing  this  the  Caliph  laughed  and,  having 
summoned  the  Cadi  and  witnesses  renewed  the  con- 
tract of  her  marriage  to  her  husband  Mahomed  Ali 
the  son  of  Ali  the  Jeweller.  After  which  they  abode 
together  in  felicity,  the  Caliph  making  the  young  man 
one  of  his  boon-companions.  And  thus  Mahomed  Ali 
and  the  Lady  Dunya  continued  in  perfect  happiness 
until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights 
and  the  separator  of  companions. 


Chapter  V 

STORY  OF  ALI   OF  CAIRO 
THE  MONEY-SPENDER 


was  in  the  city  of  Cairo  a  wealthy  mer- 
chant,  and  his  name  was  Hassan  the  Jeweller 
of  Bagdad.  Allah  had  blessed  him  with  a  son, 
of  handsome  countenance,  rosy-cheeked,  and 
endowed  with  every  perfection,  and  he  named 
him  Ali  of  Cairo.  He  had  him  taught  the 
Koran,  and  the  sciences,  and  literature;  and,  when 
he  grew  to  manhood,  he  married  him  to  a  damsel  the 
daughter  of  a  great  man.  Soon  after  this  Hassan  fell 
sick  and  felt  sure  of  death,  so  he  summoned  Ali  of  Cairo 
and  said  to  him:  "O  my  son,  verily  this  world  is  tran- 
sitory, and  the  world  to  come  everlasting!  I  am  soon 
to  die,  and  I  desire  to  give  thee  a  command;  if  thou  act 
not  according  to  it,  great  trouble  will  befall  thee." 
"O  my  father,"  answered  Ali,  "how  should  I  refuse 
to  act  according  to  thy  command  seeing  that  Allah 
hath  imposed  upon  me  obedience  to  thy  word?" 

"O  my  son,"  rejoined  his  father,  "I  leave  thee 
mansions,  and  goods  and  wealth  incalculable;  so  that 
thou  mayest  expend  every  day  five  hundred  pieces  of 
gold,  and  never  miss  them.  But,  O  my  son,  fear  Allah, 
and  obey  him  in  all  things.  Be  charitable  and  kind, 


164         Story   of  All   of  Cairo 

and  associate  with  the  good  and  just  and  learned. 
Mind  that  you  care  for  the  poor  and  needy.  Shun 
avarice  and  meanness,  and  do  not  keep  company  with 
the  wicked.  Be  just  and  merciful  to  thy  servants,  and 
treat  thy  wife  and  family  with  respect  and  kindness. 
And,  O  my  son,  I  beg  Allah  the  Bountiful,  the  Lord  of 
the  magnificent  throne,  that  He  save  thee  from  every 
difficulty  that  may  befall  thee  and  grant  thee  His  ready 
relief."  And  Hassan  of  Bagdad,  having  spoken  thus, 
uttered  a  groan  and  his  soul  quitted  his  body. 

At  this  Ali  of  Cairo  was  afflicted  with  great  grief, 
and  his  family  mourned,  and  the  friends  of  his  father 
came  to  comfort  him.  He  prepared  a  magnificent 
funeral,  and  buried  his  father;  after  which  he  retired 
to  his  house  to  mourn  and  went  not  forth  save  to  the 
place  of  prayer;  and  Friday  after  Friday  he  visited  his 
father's  tomb.  He  continued  thus  for  some  time,  when 
his  companions,  the  sons  of  the  merchants,  came  to 
him  and  said:  "O  Ali  of  Cairo,  how  long  wilt  thou  con- 
tinue to  mourn  thus,  and  abandon  thine  occupation 
and  thy  friends?  This  conduct  will  injure  thy  health! 
Come  thou  with  us  and  go  forth  to  the  market,  and 
then  repair  with  us  to  a  pleasure-garden,  and  let  us 
amuse  ourselves."  And  Eblis  the  accursed  was  with 
him,  and  seduced  him  to  comply  with  their  request, 
so  he  mounted  his  mule,  took  his  slave  and  went  with 
them  to  the  garden. 

Then  one  of  his  companions  ordered  a  dinner  to  be 
brought,  and  they  ate  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and 
sat  conversing  until  the  close  of  day.  Then  they 
mounted  and  returned  each  to  his  own  abode.  When 
morning  arrived,  his  friends  came  to  him  again,  and 
said:  "Arise,  and  come  with  us  to  another  pleasure- 


The   Money-Spender          165 

garden,  more  delightful  than  the  first."  And  he  went 
with  them  to  the  garden,  and  one  of  them  ordered  the 
dinner  together  with  intoxicating  wine.  And  they  ate 
and  drank,  and  sat  conversing  until  the  close  of  day, 
when  they  returned  to  their  abodes. 

And  Ali  of  Cairo,  giddy  from  drink,  returned  to  his 
wife,  who  when  she  saw  him  said:  "O  my  husband, 
what  hast  thou  been  doing?"  And  he  answered  her: 
"We  were  making  merry  and  enjoying  ourselves  in  a 
pleasure-garden,  and  one  of  my  companions  ordered 
some  liquor,  which  we  all  drank  and  this  giddiness  came 
upon  me."  "O  my  master,"  replied  his  wife,  "hast 
thou  already  forgotten  the  command  of  thy  father  that 
thou  shouldst  not  keep  company  with  evil  people?" 
But  Ali  answered:  "These  are  not  evil  people,  but  sons 
of  the  merchants,  who  love  pleasure  and  enjoyment." 

And  he  continued  to  spend  every  day  with  his  com- 
panions, and  they  went  from  place  to  place  eating  and 
drinking,  until  one  day  they  said  to  him:  "We  have 
done  our  part.  It  is  thy  turn  now  to  order  the  dinners." 
And  he  replied:  "A  friendly  and  free  and  an  ample  wel- 
come to  you!"  And  the  next  morning  he  took  cooks 
and  coffee-makers,  and  repaired  with  his  companions 
to  a  pleasure-garden  upon  an  island;  and  they  re- 
mained a  whole  month  eating  and  drinking  and  listen- 
ing to  music,  and  enjoying  themselves.  And  when 
the  month  was  passed  Ali  found  that  he  had  expended 
a  large  sum  of  money;  but  Eblis  the  accursed  deceived 
him,  and  said  to  him:  "If  thou  shouldst  expend  every 
day  as  much  as  thou  hast  spent  in  a  month,  thy  wealth 
would  not  fail  thee."  So  Ali  of  Cairo  continued  to 
feast  his  friends  and  use  his  riches  for  the  period  of  three 
years,  when  all  the  ready  money  he  had  was  exhausted. 


1 66         Story   of  Ali   of  Cairo 

Then  he  began  to  take  his  jewels  and  sell  them,  and 
expend  their  prices  till  he  exhausted  them  also.  After 
this  he  sold  his  houses  and  furniture  until  none  of  them 
remained.  And  when  they  were  gone,  he  proceeded  to 
sell  his  fields  and  gardens;  and  there  remained  nothing 
of  his  possessions  except  the  house  in  which  he  resided. 
He  therefore  wrenched  out  its  marbles,  and  its  carved 
woodwork,  and  sold  them  and  expended  the  money. 
Then  he  sold  the  house  and  expended  the  price. 

He  took  miserable  lodgings  in  a  mean  quarter  of  the 
city,  and  resided  there  with  his  wife  and  two  children 
until  all  their  food  was  gone  and  they  were  destitute. 
His  wife  therefore  said:  "Of  this  I  used  to  caution 
thee,  saying:  'Keep  the  command  of  thy  father.'  But 
thou  wouldst  not  listen  to  me.  However,  there  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  Allah,  the  High,  the  Great! 
Whence  shall  our  little  children  get  food?  Arise,  then, 
and  go  to  thy  companions  the  sons  of  the  merchants. 
Perhaps  they  will  give  thee  something." 

Accordingly  he  arose  and  went  to  his  companions, 
one  after  another;  but  every  one  of  them  turned  his 
back  and  spoke  roughly  to  him,  and  gave  him  nothing. 
So  Ali  came  to  his  wife  and  told  her  all;  and  when  she 
knew  that  they  had  given  him  nothing,  she  arose  and, 
going  to  her  neighbours,  asked  for  a  little  food  for  the 
children,  and  they  gave  it  to  her.  She  then  repaired 
to  a  woman  whom  she  had  known  in  former  days. 
And  when  her  friend  saw  her  distracted  state  and  knew 
what  had  befallen  her,  she  wept  and  said:  "An  ample 
and  free  welcome  to  thee!"  And  she  presented  her 
with  provisions  sufficient  for  a  month,  saying:  "When 
this  food  is  gone  come  again  to  me."  And  Ali's  wife 
took  it,  and  thanked  her,  and  returned  to  her  abode. 


The   Treasure   Genii  167 

Then  said  Ali,  "Since  now  thou  hast  food  for  thee 
and  the  children,  I  will  go  forth  to  seek  my  fortune. 
Perhaps  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  will  dispel  our 
trouble."  He  took  leave  of  her,  and  kissed  his  children, 
and  went  forth  not  knowing  whither  to  go.  He  walked 
on  without  stopping  until  he  arrived  at  the  river  bank, 
where  he  beheld  a  vessel  about  to  depart  to  Damietta. 
And,  lo,  a  man  who  had  been  a  friend  of  his  father, 
saw  him,  and  took  compassion  upon  him,  and  said: 
"Whither  desires t  thou  to  go?"  And  Ali  answered: 
"I  would  embark  in  this  vessel."  And  the  man  took 
him  to  his  house  and  treated  him  with  honour,  and 
gave  him  provisions  for  the  voyage  together  with  some 
pieces  of  gold.  And  Ali  embarked  in  the  vessel,  which 
set  sail  immediately. 

THE  TREASURE  GENII 

rND  when  they  arrived  at  Damietta,  he  landed 
but  knew  not  whither  to  go.  While  he  was  walk- 
ing through  the  market-streets  a  merchant  saw 
him,  and  was  moved  with  sympathy  and  took 
him  to  his  abode.  He  remained  with  the  mer- 
chant some  time,  when  one  day  he  saw  a  ves- 
sel about  to  sail  to  Syria,  and  he  desired  to  embark 
in  it.  So  he  returned  and  told  the  merchant  who 
prepared  provisions,  and  purchased  a  passage  for  him. 
He  embarked,  and  the  vessel  set  sail,  and  proceeded 
with  its  passengers  until  it  arrived  at  the  coast  of  Syria. 
Ali  of  Cairo  landed,  and  journeyed  until  he  came  to 
Damascus.  He  there  joined  a  caravan  about  to  set  out 
for  Bagdad,  and  they  travelled  until  there  was  between 
them  and  Bagdad  one  day's  journey.  ~  Then  there 


1 68         Story   of  All   of  Cairo 

came  upon  the  caravan  a  party  of  robbers  who  took 
the  goods  and  beasts,  and  made  the  people  captives, 
all  but  All  of  Cairo  who  escaped  and,  repairing  to  Bag- 
dad, arrived  there  at  sunset. 

The  gate-keepers  were  about  to  close  the  gate  of  the 
city,  and  when  they  learned  how  Ali  of  Cairo  had 
escaped  from  the  party  of  robbers,  they  took  compassion 
upon  him,  and  invited  him  to  spend  the  night  with  them. 
And  he  ate  with  them  and  slept  with  them  until  morn- 
ing. Then  one  of  the  gate-keepers  conducted  him  to  a 
merchant  of  Bagdad,  to  whom  he  related  his  story. 
And  the  merchant  took  him  into  his  shop,  treated  him 
with  honour,  and  clad  him  in  a  rich  suit  of  his  own  cloth- 
ing. Then  he  carried  him  to  his  abode,  and  set  before 
him  a  delicious  repast.  When  they  had  finished  eating, 
the  merchant  said  to  one  of  his  slaves:  "O  Mesrour, 
take  this  man  and  show  him  the  two  houses  which  be- 
long to  me.  Give  him  the  key  of  the  house  that  pleaseth 
him,  and  come  back." 

Ali  accompanied  the  slave  and  examined  the  first 
house,  then  went  to  the  second  and  looked  over  that, 
and  afterward  he  saw  near-by  in  the  same  street  an 
uninhabited  house  large  and  spacious,  and  he  said  to  the 
slave:  "To  whom  does  this  mansion  belong?  Open  it 
that  I  may  see  it."  And  the  slave  replied :  "  It  is  haunted 
by  Genii  and  whosoever  lodgeth  in  it  over  night  is 
found  dead  in  the  morning.  And  we  open  not  the  door 
to  take  the  dead  out,  but  go  up  on  the  roof  of  one  of  the 
other  houses  and  draw  him  up  thence.  So  my  master 
hath  abandoned  the  house  and  will  not  give  it  to  any 
one."  "Open  it  for  me,"  said  Ali,  "and  I  will  pass  the 
night  there,  and  if  I  be  dead  in  the  morning  I  shall  be 
relieved  from  my  sorrow!" 


The   Treasure   Genii  169 

So  the  slave  opened  the  door,  and  All  entered  and 
took  the  key,  and  the  slave  returned  and  informed  his 
master  of  what  had  happened.  The  merchant  arose 
in  haste,  and  going  to  Ali  begged  him  not  to  reside  in 
the  haunted  mansion.  And  when  Ali  refused  to  listen 
to  his  words,  he  called  witnesses  from  the  Cadi's 
court,  and  made  Ali  sign  an  agreement  that  if  anything 
should  happen  to  him,  he,  the  owner,  should  not  be 
held  to  account.  After  that  the  merchant  sent  a  mat- 
tress and  cushions  and  covers  for  Ali,  and  the  slave 
placed  them  upon  a  bench  behind  the  door  and  de- 
parted. And  after  a  little  while  he  returned  with  a 
supper  from  the  house  of  his  master,  and  bringing  also 
a  candle  and  a  candlestick,  and  a  basin  and  a  ewer 
and  a  water-bottle. 

So  Ali  lighted  the  candle  and  supped,  and  performed 
his  prayers.  After  which  he  arose  and  carried  his 
mattress  upstairs.  There  he  beheld  a  magnificent 
saloon,  the  ceiling  of  which  was  gilded,  and  its  floor 
and  its  walls  were  made  of  coloured  marbles.  He  spread 
his  bed  in  the  saloon,  and  sat  reciting  the  Koran  when 
suddenly  a  voice  called  to  him,  saying:  "O  Ali!  O  son 
of  Hassan!  Shall  I  send  down  the  gold  upon  thee?" 
"And  where,"  asked  Ali,  "is  the  gold?"  He  had  not 
finished  speaking  when  there  poured  down  gold  as 
from  a  catapult;  and  the  gold  ceased  not  to  pour  down 
until  it  filled  the  saloon.  Then  said  the  voice:  "Re- 
lease me  so  that  I  may  depart,  for  my  service  is  fin- 
ished." "I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  the  Great!"  ex- 
claimed Ali,  "that  thou  tell  me  from  whence  this  gold 
cometh." 

And  the  voice  replied:  "This  gold  was  preserved  for 
thee  by  a  talisman  from  ancient  times.  And  whenever 


Story   of  Ali   of  Cairo 

any  one  entered  this  house  to  sleep,  we  called  to  him: 
*  O  Ali !  O  son  of  Hassan !  Shall  we  send  down  the  gold 
upon  thee?'  And  he  would  tremble  at  our  words, 
and  cry  out  in  fear,  whereupon  we  would  descend  and 
break  his  neck,  and  depart.  And  to-night  we  called 
thee  by  thy  name,  and  thou  didst  answer,  and  we  knew 
that  thou  wast  its  owner,  so  we  sent  down  the  gold. 
Know  also,  that  there  is  a  treasure  awaiting  thee  in 
the  Land  of  Yemen;  and  if  thou  wilt  go  there  and  take 
it  and  bring  it  hither,  it  will  be  well  for  thee.  But  do 
thou  release  me  now,  that  I  may  go  my  way." 

But  Ali  replied:  "Verily  I  will  not  liberate  thee  until 
thou  bringest  here  to  me  the  treasure  that  is  in  the 
Land  of  Yemen."  And  the  voice  said:  "If  I  bring  it  to 
thee  wilt  thou  release  me,  and  wilt  thou  liberate  the 
servant  of  the  Treasure?"  And  Ali  replied:  "Yes,  if 
thou  wilt  perform  one  other  thing  for  me.  I  have  a 
wife  and  two  children  in  Cairo.  Thou  must  bring  them 
to  me  without  injuring  them  in  any  way."  And  the 
voice  replied:  "I  will  bring  them  to  thee  in  three  days, 
with  a  stately  procession,  and  in  a  litter,  with  servants 
and  other  attendants,  together  with  the  treasure  that 
we  will  fetch  from  the  Land  of  Yemen,  if  it  be  the  will 
of  Allah,  whose  name  be  exalted!"  and  the  voice  ceased 
speaking. 

And  in  the  morning,  Ali  searched  about  the  saloon 
for  a  place  in  which  to  deposit  the  gold,  and  he  found 
a  slab  of  marble  in  which  was  a  peg.  He  turned  the 
peg,  and  the  slab  moved  aside,  and  revealed  a  door. 
He  opened  the  door,  and  beheld  a  large  treasury  in 
which  were  a  number  of  linen  bags.  He  took  the  bags 
and  filled  them  with  the  gold,  and  put  them  into  the 
treasury,  after  which  he  shut  the  door  and  turned  the 


The   Treasure   Genii          171 

peg;  whereupon  the  slab  of  marble  returned  to  its 
place.  Then  he  descended  and  seated  himself  upon 
the  bench  beside  the  door  of  the  house. 

And  while  he  was  sitting  there  some  one  knocked 
and  he  arose  and  opened  the  door  and,  lo,  there  stood 
without  the  slave  of  the  owner  of  the  house.  And  when 
he  beheld  Ali  of  Cairo  living  and  well,  he  ran  hastily 
to  his  master  saying:  "Verily  the  man  who  lodgeth 
in  the  house  haunted  by  the  Genii,  is  well  and  un- 
harmed!" So  his  master  arose  full  of  joy,  and  hastened 
to  the  house,  and  embraced  Ali,  and  kissed  him  be- 
tween the  eyes,  and  said:  "What  hath  happened  unto 
thee?"  And  Ali  answered:  "I  slept  upstairs  in  the 
saloon  ornamented  with  marbles,  and  this  morning  I 
am  safe  from  harm!"  And  the  merchant  said:  "Praise 
be  to  Allah  for  thy  safety!"  And  he  arose  and  left 
him,  and  sent  to  him  black  slaves,  and  memlooks,  and 
female  slaves,  and  magnificent  furniture.  And  when 
the  other  merchants  heard  of  this  they  sent  him  pres- 
ents of  delicious  food  and  beverages  and  handsome 
clothes  and  took  him  with  them  into  the  market,  and 
Ali  said  to  them:  "In  three  days'  time  will  I  hire  a 
shop  and  have  merchandise  for  sale." 

And  when  three  days  had  passed  the  servant  of  the 
first  treasure,  who  had  poured  down  gold  upon  Ali, 
came  to  him  and  said:  "Arise,  meet  the  treasure  that 
I  have  brought  thee  out  of  the  Land  of  Yemen,  to- 
gether with  thy  wife  and  children,  with  whom  is  a 
treasure  of  magnificent  merchandise,  and  a  caravan 
consisting  of  mules  and  horses  and  camels,  and  serv- 
ants and  memlooks,  all  of  whom  are  Marids  of  the 
Genii."  And  Ali  of  Cairo  arose  and  going  to  the  mer- 
chants said:  "Come  forth  with  me  from  the  city  to 


172         Story   of  Ali   of  Cairo 

meet  the  caravan  which  brings  my  merchandise,  and 
honour  me  by  taking  with  you  your  families  to  meet 
my  family."  And  they  answered  him:  "We  hear  and 
obey." 

They  sent  and  caused  their  families  to  be  brought, 
and  went  forth  all  together  and  alighted.  And  behold, 
while  they  were  conversing,  a  cloud  of  dust  rose  in  the 
midst  of  the  desert,  and,  lo,  a  great  caravan  drew  near. 
And  the  chief  of  the  caravan  approached  Ali  of  Cairo, 
kissed  his  hand  and  said:  "O  my  master,  we  have  been 
delayed  on  the  way,  otherwise  we  should  have  been 
here  before."  Then  the  merchants  mounted  their 
mules,  and  preceded  the  caravan,  and  the  families 
followed  after,  and  they  all  entered  the  city  in  mag- 
nificent procession.  The  merchants  wondered  at  the 
mules  loaded  with  chests,  and  the  women  of  the  mer- 
chants wondered  at  the  rich  apparel  of  the  wife  and 
children  of  Ali  of  Cairo  saying:  "Verily  the  like  of  this 
beautiful  apparel  existeth  not  in  all  the  world!" 

They  advanced  in  stately  procession  through  the 
streets  of  Bagdad,  until  they  came  to  Ali's  house, 
where  they  all  alighted  and  brought  the  mules  with 
their  loads  into  the  court.  After  they  had  stowed  away 
the  chests  in  storerooms,  the  merchants  and  their 
families  entered  a  large  saloon  which  was  like  a  garden 
abounding  in  trees  and  adorned  with  magnificent 
furniture.  They  seated  themselves  and  remained  con- 
versing until  noon,  when  a  delicious  repast  was  served 
consisting  of  delicate  viands  and  sweetmeats  and  cool- 
ing sherbets;  and  after  they  had  eaten  they  scented 
themselves  with  rose-water  and  perfumes.  Then  the 
merchants  and  their  families  took  leave  of  Ali  and  his 
family  and  departed  to  their  own  abodes. 


The   Treasure   Genii  173 

As  for  the  slaves  and  servants  who  had  brought  the 
caravan,  they  were  all  Marids  of  the  Genii,  and  so 
were  the  mules  and  the  horses  and  the  camels.  And 
Ali  gave  them  permission  to  go  forth  from  the  city  and 
go  to  their  places;  so  they  took  leave  of  him  with  joy, 
departed  from  the  city,  returned  to  their  own  shapes, 
and  soared  through  the  sky  to  their  abodes. 

After  this  Ali  of  Cairo  went  to  his  wife  and  embraced 
her  saying:  "O  my  wife,  inform  me  of  what  happened 
unto  thee  after  my  departure."  And  his  wife  replied: 
"O  my  master,  we  suffered  from  hunger,  nakedness  and 
fatigue!  And,  lo,  last  night  I  was  sleeping  with  my 
children,  when  suddenly  some  one  lifted  me  and  the 
children  from  the  ground  and  soared  with  us  through 
the  air.  And  we  ceased  not  to  soar  until  we  alighted 
upon  the  ground  beside  a  caravan.  We  were  placed 
in  a  litter  borne  by  two  great  mules,  surrounded  by 
servants  and  pages.  So  I  said  to  them:  'Who  are  ye, 
and  to  whom  do  these  loaded  mules  belong?'  And 
they  answered:  'We  are  the  servants  of  Ali  of  Cairo, 
the  son  of  Hassan  the  Jeweller.  He  hath  sent  us  to 
convey  you  to  him  in  the  city  of  Bagdad. '  And  I  said: 
'How  far  is  it  to  Bagdad?'  They  answered:  'But  a 
short  distance,  for  we  will  traverse  it  during  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night.' 

"Then  the  chief  of  the  caravan  opened  one  of  the 
chests,  and  took  forth  rich  garments  and  attired  me 
and  my  children  in  them.  After  which  he  locked  the 
chest  and  gave  me  the  key,  saying:  'Take  care  of  this 
key  and  give  it  to  thy  husband.'  And  here  it  is  safe 
in  my  bosom."  And  she  took  it  out  and  gave  it  to  Ali 
and  he  said:  "Dost  thou  remember  what  the  chest 
looked  like?"  And  she  answered:  "Yes."  So  Ali 


174        Story   of  All   of  Cairo 

descended  with  her  to  the  storerooms  and  showed  her 
the  chests,  and  she  found  the  one  from  which  the  chief 
of  the  caravan  had  taken  the  dresses.  And  Ali  opened 
it,  and  in  it  were  many  rich  garments,  together  with 
the  keys  of  the  other  chests.  So  he  took  the  keys  and 
opened  the  chests  one  after  the  other,  and  was  amazed 
at  the  sight  of  quantities  of  jewels  and  precious  stones 
and  gold,  the  like  of  which  existed  not  in  the  palaces 
of  any  King. 

Ali  locked  the  chests,  took  the  keys,  and  returned 
with  his  wife  to  the  saloon,  saying:  "This  is  the  bounty 
of  Allah,  whose  name  be  exalted!"  Then  he  led  his 
wife  to  the  marble  slab,  and  turned  the  peg,  and  opened 
the  door  of  the  treasury  and,  entering  it  with  her, 
showed  her  the  bags  of  gold,  and  related  to  her  all  his 
adventures  from  first  to  last.  On  hearing  which  his 
wife  said  to  him:  "O  my  master,  all  this  hath  come  to 
pass  through  the  blessing  and  prayer  of  thy  father. 
So  praise  be  to  Allah,  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  for 
giving  thee  relief  from  thy  want  and  sorrow!  I  con- 
jure thee  by  Allah,  O  my  master,  that  thou  return  no 
more  to  thy  evil  ways."  And  Ali  replied:  "I  accept 
thy  advice,  and  pray  that  Allah  (whose  name  be  ex- 
alted !)  remove  me  far  from  the  wicked,  and  teach  me 
to  obey  His  precepts." 

And  after  this  Ali  of  Cairo  continued  to  live  a  most 
comfortable  life  with  his  wife  and  children,  and  took 
a  shop  in  the  market  of  the  merchants,  which  he  stocked 
with  jewels  and  precious  stones;  and  he  became  the 
greatest  of  the  merchants  in  the  city  of  Bagdad.  And 
he  and  his  wife  passed  a  most  happy  life,  until  they 
were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the 
separator  of  companions. 


Chapter  VI 


STORY  OF  ABOU  MAHOMED  THE 
LAZY 

THE  CROWN  OF  JEWELS 

HE  Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid  was  sitting  upon 
his  throne  one  day,  when  there  approached  him 
a  young  man  of  the  eunuchs  carrying  a  crown  of 
red  gold  set  with  pearls  and  jacinths  and  other 
jewels  beautiful  beyond  price.  The  eunuch 
kissed  the  ground  before  the  Caliph,  and  said: 
"O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  Lady  Zobeide  greeteth 
thee,  and  saith:  'Behold  this  crown,  it  needeth  a  large 
jewel  in  front,  and  I  have  searched  my  treasures,  and 
found  not  among  them  a  jewel  large  enough."1 

So  the  Caliph  said  to  his  chamberlains  and  lieuten- 
ants: "Search  for  a  large  jewel  such  as  Zobeide  de- 
sireth."  And  they  searched  and  found  none.  And  the 
Caliph  grieved  and  said:  "How  is  it  that  I  am  the 
Caliph,  and  King  of  the  Kings  of  the  earth,  and  yet 
am  unable  to  procure  a  jewel?  Woe  unto  you!  Go  and 
inquire  of  the  merchants  of  the  city."  So  the  chamber- 
lains and  lieutenants  inquired  and  the  merchants  an- 
swered: "Our  lord  the  Caliph  will  find  such  a  jewel  in 
the  possession  of  a  man  residing  in  Balsora,  named 
Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy."  So  the  Caliph  ordered  his 
Vizier  Jaafar  to  send  a  message  to  the  Governor  of 

175 


176    Aboii    Mahomed   the    Lazy 

Balsora,  commanding  him  to  bring  Abou  Mahomed  the 
Lazy  to  the  Caliph.  The  Vizier  therefore  wrote  the 
order,  and  sent  it  by  Mesrour. 

Mesrour  immediately  repaired  to  the  city  of  Balsora, 
and  went  in  to  the  Governor,  who  rejoiced  at  seeing 
him,  and  treated  him  with  all  honour.  He  then  read 
the  message  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  Haroun  Er 
Raschid,  and  said:  "I  hear  and  obey."  He  forthwith 
sent  Mesrour  with  attendants  to  the  house  of  Abou 
Mahomed  the  Lazy,  and  they  knocked  on  his  door. 
Immediately  a  page  came  forth,  and  Mesrour  said  to 
him:  "Go  and  tell  thy  master  that  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  summoneth  him."  And  the  page  went  in  and 
told  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  who  came  forth  and 
kissed  the  ground  before  Mesrour.  And  he  said:  "I 
hear  and  obey  the  summons  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, but  enter  my  abode  and  wait  a  little,  while  I  settle 
my  affairs."  And  Mesrour  said:  "We  may  only  pay 
thee  a  hasty  visit,  as  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  is  ex- 
pecting thy  speedy  arrival." 

And  they  entered  the  house,  and  beheld  a  passage 
|  hung  with  curtains  of  blue  brocade  embroidered  with 
red  gold.  Then  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  ordered 
pages  to  conduct  Mesrour  to  the  bath,  which  was  in  the 
house,  and  they  did  so.  And  Mesrour  saw  that  its 
walls  and  pavements  were  of  precious  marbles,  and  it 
was  decorated  with  gold  and  silver,  and  its  water  was 
mixed  with  perfumes.  When  he  had  come  out  of  the 
bath,  the  pages  clad  him  in  a  garment  of  brocade  inter- 
woven with  gold.  After  which  he  entered  a  large  saloon 
and  saw  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  sitting  in  a  pavilion 
hung  with  curtains  of  brocade  embroidered  with  gold 
and  adorned  with  pearls  and  jewels,  and  he  was  seated 


The   Crown   of  Jewels         177 

upon  a  couch  set  with  jewels,  and  having  cushions  em- 
broidered with  red  gold. 

And  when  he  saw  Mesrour  he  rose  and  welcomed 
him,  and,  having  seated  him  at  his  side,  gave  orders 
to  serve  a  repast.  And  the  servants  placed  a  table  the 
like  of  which  was  not  in  the  palace  of  the  Caliph;  and 
they  served  a  repast  consisting  of  a  variety  of  delicious 
viands  in  dishes  of  gilt  China  ware.  And  they  ate  and 
drank  until  close  of  day,  when  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy 
presented  Mesrour  and  his  attendants  each  with  five 
thousand  pieces  of  gold.  And  on  the  following  day  he 
clad  each  in  green  robes  of  honour,  embroidered  with 
gold.  Then  said  Mesrour:  "It  is  impossible  for  us  to 
remain  longer  for  fear  of  the  Caliph's  anger."  But 
Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  answered:  "O  our  lords,  have 
patience  until  to-morrow,  that  we  may  prepare  ourselves 
for  the  journey,  and  then  we  will  go  with  you."  So 
they  remained  that  day,  and  passed  the  night  until 
morning,  when  the  pages  equipped  a  mule  for  Abou 
Mahomed  the  Lazy  with  a  saddle  of  gold  adorned  with 
varieties  of  pearls  and  jewels.  Then  said  Mesrour  to 
himself:  "When  this  man  presenteth  himself  before 
the  Caliph,  surely  then  my  master  will  ask  him  how  he 
obtained  such  great  wealth!" 

After  that,  they  took  leave  of  the  Governor  of  Bal- 
sora,  and  journeyed  until  they  arrived  at  the  City  of 
Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace.  And  they  went  in  to  the 
Caliph,  and  stood  before  him,  and  he  commanded  Abou 
Mahomed  the  Lazy  to  seat  himself.  So  he  sat  and 
addressed  the  Caliph,  saying:  "O  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, I  have  brought  with  me  a  present  for  thee.  May 
I  produce  it  with  thy  permission?"  And  Er  Raschid 
answered:  "Do  so." 


i.  7  8    Abou   Mahomed   the   Lazy 

Accordingly  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  ordered  his 
servants  to  bring  a  chest,  which  he  opened,  and  he  took 
forth  from  it  trees  of  gold  with  leaves  of  white  emeralds, 
and  fruits  of  red  and  yellow  jacinths  and  white  pearls. 
And  when  the  Caliph  saw  them  he  wondered  exceed- 
ingly. Then  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  ordered  a  second 
chest  to  be  brought,  and  took  from  it  a  tent  of  brocade 
adorned  with  pearls  and  jacinths  and  emeralds  and 
chrysolites,  and  varieties  of  other  jewels.  Its  poles  were 
of  aloes-wood;  its  curtains  were  adorned  with  emeralds 
and  embroidered  with  forms  of  birds  and  wild  beasts  all 
of  which  were  worked  in  jacinths,  emeralds,  chrysolites, 
rubies  and  all  kinds  of  precious  stones.  And  when  the 
Caliph  Haroun  Er  Raschid  saw  all  this  he  was  amazed. 

Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  then  said:  "O  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  if  thou  wilt  permit  I  will  gratify  thee  with  the 
sight  of  some  wonderful  feats  which  I  am  able  to  ac- 
complish." And  the  Caliph  replied:  "Do  what  thou 
wilt,  that  we  may  see  it."  Then  Abou  Mahomed  moved 
his  lips  and  made  a  sign  to  the  walls  of  the  palace,  and 
they  leaned  toward  him,  and  he  made  another  sign  and 
they  resumed  their  proper  position.  After  this  he  made 
a  sign  and  there  appeared  before  him  some  cabinets  with 
closed  doors.  He  spoke  a  few  words,  and  immediately 
the  voices  of  birds  answered  him.  And  the  Caliph 
wondered  at  this  exceedingly,  and  said:  "Whence  hast 
thou  this  great  power,  seeing  that  thou  art  known  by 
the  name  of  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  and  that  thy 
father  was  an  attendant  in  a  public  bath,  and  that  he 
left  thee  nothing?"  "O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,"  an- 
swered he,  "hear  my  story,  for  it  is  wonderful  and  ex- 
traordinary." And  Er  Raschid  said :  "Relate  what  thou 
hast  to  tell,  O  Abou  Mahomed! "  So  he  said: 


The   Marid-Ape  179 


THE  MARID-APE 

|NOW,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful  (may  Allah  in- 
crease thy  glory  and  power!)  that  I  am  called 
Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  and  that  my  father 
was  no  other  than  what  thou  hast  said, — he 
was  an  attendant  in  a  public  bath.  In  my 
youth  I  was  the  laziest  of  all  beings  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth.  My  laziness  was  so  great  that  when 
I  was  sleeping  in  the  hot  season  and  the  sun  came  upon 
me,  I  was  too  sluggish  to  rise  and  seek  the  shade.  Thus 
I  lived  until  I  was  sixteen,  when  my  father  died  and 
left  me  nothing.  But  my  mother  was  a  servant  to 
some  people,  and  she  fed  me  and  gave  me  to  drink 
while  I  lay  upon  my  side. 

And  it  happened  that  my  mother  came  to  me  one 
day  bringing  five  pieces  of  silver  and  she  said:  "O  my 
son,  I  have  been  told  that  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar 
is  about  to  make  a  voyage  to  China.  This  sheikh  loveth 
the  poor  and  is  virtuous.  Therefore,  O  my  son,  take 
these  five  pieces  of  silver  and  go  to  him  and  request 
him  to  buy  thee  something  in  the  land  of  China.  Per- 
haps the  bounty  of  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!) 
may  be  bestowed  upon  thee."  But  I  was  too  lazy  to 
rise.  Then  said  she:  "Verily  if  thou  dost  not  rise  and 
go  to  Aboul  Muzaffar,  I  will  neither  feed  thee  nor  give 
thee  to  drink,  nor  go  near  thee,  but  leave  thee  to  die  of 
hunger  and  thirst." 

When  I  heard  her  words,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
I  knew  that  she  would  do  so.  Wherefore  I  said:  "Lift 
me  up."  And  she  did  so  while  I  wept.  "Bring  me  my 


180    Abou   Mahomed   the   Lazy 

shoes,"  said  I.  And  she  brought  them,  and  I  said: 
"Put  them  on  my  feet."  And  she  put  them  on.  I  then 
said:  "Lift  me  up  from  the  ground."  And  when  she 
had  done  this,  I  said:  "Support  me  that  I  may  walk." 
So  she  supported  me,  and  I  continued  walking,  stum- 
bling along,  until  we  arrived  at  the  bank  of  the  river 
where  we  saw  the  sheikh.  "O  my  uncle,"  said  I,  "art 
thou  Aboul  Muzaffar?"  He  answered:  "I  am." 
"Take  these  pieces  of  silver,"  said  I,  "and  buy  with 
them  something  for  me  from  the  land  of  China;  perhaps 
Allah  may  prosper  me."  And  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaf- 
far said  to  his  companions:  "Do  ye  know  this  young 
man?"  "Yes,"  they  answered,  "his  name  is  Abou 
Mahomed  the  Lazy,  and  we  have  never  seen  him  leave 
his  house  before."  Then  said  the  sheikh  Aboul  Mu- 
zaffar: "O  my  son,  give  me  the  money,  and  may  the 
blessing  of  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  attend  it." 
And  he  received  the  money  from  me  saying:  "In  the 
name  of  Allah."  After  which  I  returned  with  my 
mother  to  the  house. 

The  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  set  forth  on  the  voyage 
together  with  a  company  of  merchants,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded without  interruption  until  they  arrived  at  the 
land  of  China.  The  sheikh  sold  and  bought,  and  set 
forth  to  return,  he  and  those  who  were  with  him.  And 
when  they  had  been  on  the  sea  for  three  days,  the  sheikh 
said  to  his  companions:  "Stay  the  vessel,  and  return 
to  the  land  of  China,  for  I  have  forgotten  to  expend 
the  money  intrusted  to  me  by  Abou  Mahomed  the 
Lazy."  But  the  merchants  replied:  "We  conjure  thee 
by  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  that  thou  turn  not 
back;  for  we  have  come  a  long  way  on  our  journey, 
and  have  experienced  great  horrors  and  exceeding 


The   Marid-Ape  181 


trouble."  Still  the  sheikh  said:  "We  must  return." 
But  the  merchants  said:  "Receive  from  us  several 
times  as  much  money  as  the  profits  from  the  five  pieces 
of  silver,  and  take  us  not  back."  So  he  assented 
to  their  proposal,  and  they  gave  him  a  large  sum  of 
money. 

Then  they  proceeded  until  they  arrived  at  a  well- 
populated  island,  where  they  cast  anchor.  The  mer- 
chants landed  to  purchase  precious  stones,  and  pearls, 
and  jewels  and  other  things.  And  Aboul  Muzaffar 
saw  a  man  sitting  surrounded  by  apes,  and  among 
these  was  an  ape  whose  hair  was  plucked  off.  The 
other  apes,  when  their  master  was  not  looking,  fell  upon 
the  plucked  ape  and  beat  him,  and  threw  him  upon 
their  master  who  would  then  rise  and  beat  and  torment 
them  for  doing  this.  And  all  the  apes  became  enraged 
against  the  plucked  ape,  and  beat  him  again.  Now 
when  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  saw  this  he  was  filled 
with  compassion  for  the  plucked  ape,  and  said  to  the 
owner:  "Wilt  thou  sell  me  this  ape?  I  have  five  pieces 
of  silver  belonging  to  a  lad.  Wilt  thou  sell  him  for  that 
sum?"  And  the  man  answered:  "I  will  sell  him  for  five 
pieces  of  silver,  and  may  Allah  bless  thee  in  him!"  So 
the  sheikh  paid  the  money  to  the  owner  and  took  the 
ape,  and  tied  him  in  the  ship. 

After  this  they  loosed  the  sails,  and  proceeded  to 
another  island  where  they  cast  anchor.  And  the  divers 
who  dived  for  precious  stones,  and  pearls  and  jewels, 
came  down  to  the  shore,  and  the  merchants  hired  them. 
So  they  dived,  and  the  ape  seeing  them  do  this  loosed 
himself  from  his  cord,  and  dived  with  them.  And,  lo, 
when  he  came  up  he  had  his  hands  full  of  precious  jewels, 
and  he  threw  them  down  before  Aboul  Muzaffar.  And 


1 82    Abou   Mahomed   the   Lazy 

when  the  sheikh  beheld  this  he  exclaimed:  "Verily 
there  is  something  wonderful  about  this  ape!" 

Then  they  loosed  the  sails  and  proceeded  to  an  island 
of  the  blacks  who  eat  the  flesh  of  men.  And  when  the 
inhabitants  saw  them  they  came  in  boats,  and  taking 
all  the  people  in  the  ship,  bound  their  hands  and  carried 
them  to  the  King  of  the  island.  He  ordered  some  of 
them  to  be  slaughtered;  so  they  killed  a  number  of  the 
merchants  and  sailors  and  ate  their  flesh.  The  rest 
passed  the  night  in  great  misery,  and  at  the  hour  of 
midnight  the  ape  arose  and  came  to  Aboul  Muzaffar 
and  loosed  his  bonds.  And  when  the  rest  of  the  men 
saw  that  they  cried  out:  "O  Aboul  Muzaffar,  if  thy  ape 
will  liberate  us,  we  each  will  give  him  a  thousand  pieces 
of  gold."  The  ape  hearing  this,  immediately  loosed 
their  bonds.  They  hastened  to  the  ship  and  embarked, 
and  found  all  the  merchandise  safe. 

They  immediately  set  sail,  and  continued  their 
voyage;  and  each  of  them  paid  Aboul  Muzaffar  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  thus  a  great  sum  of  money 
was  collected  for  the  ape.  They  arrived  at  the  city  of 
Balsora,  and  when  they  had  landed  Aboul  Muzaffar 
inquired  for  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy.  My  mother, 
hearing  of  it,  came  to  me  while  I  was  lying  asleep,  and 
said:  "Arise,  O  my  son,  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  is 
come.  Repair  to  him,  and  see  what  he  hath  bought  for 
thee.  Perhaps  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath 
blessed  thee  with  good  fortune." 

So  I  replied:  "Lift  me  up  from  the  ground  and  sup- 
port me."  She  did  so,  and  I  walked  stumbling  along 
until  I  came  to  the  sheikh.  When  he  beheld  me  he  ex- 
claimed: "Welcome  to  thee  whose  money  saved  my 
life  and  liberated  these  merchants!  Take  this  ape, 


EVERY  DAY  THE  APE  RETURNED  BRINGING  A  THOUSAND  PIECES  OF  GOLD 


The   Marid-Ape  183 

0  my  son,  for  I  bought  him  for  thee.    Go  to  thy  house 
and  wait  there  for  me."    I  took  the  ape  home,  saying 
to  myself:  "Verily  this  is  magnificent  merchandise!" 

1  entered  my  house,  and  said  to  my  mother:  "Every 
time  I  lie  down  to  sleep,  and  thou  wishest  me  to  get  up 
to  traffic,  look  at  this  costly  merchandise!"     Then  I 
sat  down.    While  I  was  sitting,  lo,  the  slaves  of  Aboul 
Muzaffar  approached  each  carrying  on  his  head  a  large 
chest.    And  behold  Aboul  Muzaffar  came  also  and  said 
to  me:  "O  my  son,  Allah  hath  blessed  thee  with  the 
wealth  which  is  in  these  chests."    Then  he  gave  me  the 
keys  of  the  chests  and  departed.     And  the  slaves  de- 
posited the  chests  in  my  house,  and  also  departed. 

And  when  my  mother  saw  my  wealth  she  rejoiced 
and  said:  "O  my  son,  Allah  hath  blessed  thee  abun- 
dantly, so  give  over  this  laziness,  and  take  a  shop  in  the 
market-street  and  sell  and  buy.  Accordingly  I  left  off 
being  lazy,  and  opened  a  shop,  and  the  ape  sat  with  me, 
and  when  I  ate  he  ate,  and  when  I  drank  he  drank. 
And  every  day  he  left  me  and  was  gone  from  morning 
until  noon,  when  he  returned  bringing  me  a  purse  con- 
taining a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  put  it  in  my  lap 
and  sat  down  beside  me.  So  I  bought,  O  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  houses,  and  gardens,  and  memlooks,  and 
black  male  slaves,  and  female  slaves. 

And  it  happened  one  day  that  I  was  sitting,  and  the 
ape  was  sitting  beside  me,  and,  lo,  he  began  to  converse 
with  an  eloquent  tongue,  saying:  "O  Abou  Mahomed!" 
And  hearing  this  I  trembled  with  fear,  but  he  said: 
"Be  not  afraid.  I  am  a  Marid  of  the  Genii,  and  know- 
ing thy  poverty,  out  of  compassion  I  have  come  to 
enrich  thee.  I  desire  to  marry  thee  to  a  damsel  as 
beautiful  as  the  full  moon.  So  to-morrow  attire  thy- 


184    Abou    Mahomed   the   Lazy 

self  in  thy  richest  garments,  mount  thy  mule  with  the 
saddle  of  gold,  and  repair  to  the  shop  of  the  Shereef  of 
the  grain-market,  and  ask  him  to  give  thee  his  daugh- 
ter in  marriage,  and  offer  him  a  large  dowry  in  gold." 
So  I  replied:  "I  hear  and  obey,  and  to-morrow  I  will 
do  this,  if  it  be  the  will  of  Allah,  whose  name  be  ex- 
alted!" 

Accordingly  I  arose  in  the  morning,  and  put  on  my 
richest  apparel,  mounted  the  mule  with  the  saddle  of 
gold,  and  going  to  the  shop  of  the  Shereef,  found  him 
sitting  on  a  bench.  I  alighted  and  sat  beside  him,  and 
told  him  that  I  had  come  as  a  suitor  desiring  his  daugh- 
ter; and  I  gave  him  a  purse  containing  a  thousand 
pieces  of  gold.  And  when  the  Shereef  saw  the  money 
he  hung  down  his  head  for  a  while,  then  raising  it  said: 
"If  this  must  be,  I  desire  three  thousand  pieces  of  gold 
besides."  I  immediately  sent  one  of  my  memlooks  to 
my  house  and  he  brought  the  money,  and  I  gave  it  to 
the  Shereef.  Thereupon  he  closed  his  shop,  and,  invit- 
ing his  companions  from  the  market  to  his  house,  took 
me  to  his  abode  and  performed  the  contract  of  my 
marriage  to  his  daughter,  saying  that  in  ten  days  the 
marriage  feast  should  be  celebrated. 

I  returned  to  my  house,  full  of  joy,  and  informed  the 
ape  of  all  that  had  happened.  And  when  the  ten  days 
had  passed,  and  the  Shereef  had  prepared  the  marriage 
feast,  the  ape  said  to  me:  "I  wish  thee  to  do  something 
for  me,  after  which  I  will  do  anything  that  thou  mayest 
desire.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  saloon  in  which  thou 
wilt  see  thy  bride,  is  a  closet,  upon  the  door  of  which  is 
a  brass  ring,  and  the  keys  are  beneath  the  ring.  Take 
the  keys  and  open  the  door.  Thou  wilt  see  a  chest  of 
iron,  at  the  corners  of  which  are  four  talismans.  In  the 


The  Marid-Ape  185 

middle  of  the  chest  stands  a  basin  filled  with  money, 
and  by  its  side  are  eleven  serpents,  and  in  the  basin  is 
tied  a  cock  with  a  cleft  comb,  and  there  is  a  knife  by  the 
side  of  the  chest.  Take  the  knife,  and  kill  the  cock, 
break  in  pieces  the  talismans,  and  empty  the  chest, 
then  go  forth  and  meet  the  bride.  This  is  all  that  I  de- 
sire of  thee."  And  I  answered  the  ape:  "I  hear  and 
obey." 

I  then  went  to  the  house  of  the  Shereef,  and,  enter- 
ing the  saloon,  I  beheld  my  bride  and  I  wondered  at 
her  excessive  beauty,  for  no  tongue  can  describe  her 
loveliness!  I  was  exceedingly  delighted  with  her,  and 
when  midnight  came  and  the  bride  slept,  I  arose  and 
went  to  the  closet  at  the  end  of  the  saloon.  I  took  the 
keys,  and  opened  the  door,  and  taking  the  knife  I 
killed  the  cock,  broke  the  talismans,  and  overturned  the 
chest.  At  this  the  damsel  awoke  and  saw  that  the 
closet  was  open  and  the  cock  killed,  and  she  exclaimed : 
"Alas!  Alas!  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in 
Allah,  the  High,  the  Great!  The  Marid  hath  taken 
me!"  And  her  words  were  not  ended  when  a  Marid- 
ape  suddenly  appeared,  and  snatched  away  the  bride. 

Then  a  clamour  arose,  and,  lo,  the  Shereef  came  in 
slapping  his  face,  and  saying:  "O  Abou  Mahomed, 
what  hast  thou  done!  I  made  this  talisman  to  secure 
my  daughter  from  that  accursed  wretch!  He  hath  for 
six  years  been  desirous  of  stealing  her,  and  could  not 
do  so  because  of  the  chest  and  the  cock.  But  thou 
shalt  no  longer  remain  here,  so  depart."  I  returned  to 
my  abode  and  searched  for  my  ape,  but  found  him  not. 
Then  knew  I  that  he  was  the  Marid-ape  who  had  taken 
my  wife,  and  that  he  had  deceived  me  about  the  talis- 
man and  the  cock  which  prevented  him  from  taking  her. 


1 86    Abou   Mahomed   the   Lazy 

I  despaired,  and  tore  my  clothes,  and  slapped  my 
face.  Then  I  went  forth  from  the  house,  seeking  the 
desert,  and  walked  on  not  knowing  whither  to  go. 
And,  lo,  two  serpents  approached  me,  one  tawny- 
coloured,  and  the  other  white;  and  they  were  fighting 
together.  I  picked  up  a  stone  and  struck  the  tawny- 
coloured  one  and  killed  it,  for  it  was  overcoming  the 
white  one.  Then  the  white  serpent  departed,  and  in  a 
while  it  returned  accompanied  by  ten  other  white  ser- 
pents, and  they  came  to  the  dead  serpent  and  tore  it 
in  pieces,  which  having  done  they  went  their  way. 

Evening  having  come  I  lay  down  on  the  desert  to 
sleep,  when  suddenly  I  heard  a  voice  reciting  these 
verses: 

"O  Muslim  whose  guide  is  the  KoTan, 

Safety  hath  come  to  thee. 

Fear  not  what  Eblis  may  do, 

For  we  protect  thee. " 

So  I  said  to  the  voice,  whose  form  I  saw  not:  "By 
the  Object  of  thy  worship,  inform  me  who  thou  art!" 
Whereupon  the  voice  assumed  the  form  of  a  man,  and 
replied:  "Fear  not,  thy  kind  conduct  is  known  to  us. 
If  then  thou  hast  any  want  acquaint  us  with  it,  that 
we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  performing  it.  For  know, 
O  Abou  Mahomed,  that  I  am  the  brother  of  the  white 
serpent,  whose  enemy  thou  killedst.  We  are  four 
brothers,  and  we  are  thankful  for  thy  kindness.  And 
know  also  that  he  who  was  in  the  form  of  an  ape,  and 
who  deceived  thee,  is  one  of  the  evil  Genii.  For  a  long 
time  he  hath  been  desirous  of  stealing  the  damsel,  but 
could  not  do  so  because  of  the  talisman.  But  fear  not, 
nor  despair.  For  we  will  convey  thee  to  thy  bride,  and 
we  will  slay  the  Marid." 


The   Marid-Ape  187 

Then  the  man  uttered  a  loud  cry  with  a  terrible  voice, 
and,  lo,  a  troop  of  persons  approached  and  he  asked 
them  where  the  Marid  abode.  And  they  answered: 
"In  the  City  of  Brass,  upon  which  the  sun  riseth  not." 
And  the  man  said:  "O  Abou  Mahomed,  mount  the 
back  of  one  of  this  troop,  and  he  will  carry  thee  to  the 
damsel.  Know  that  he  is  a  Marid  of  the  good  Genii, 
but  while  thou  art  upon  his  back  mention  not  the  name 
of  Allah,  for  if  thou  mention  it,  he  will  let  thee  fall, 
and  thou  wilt  perish  miserably."  I  replied:  "I  hear 
and  obey." 

One  of  the  troop  came  to  me,  and  stooped,  and  said: 
"Mount."  And  I  mounted.  He  then  soared  with  me 
into  the  sky,  until  he  had  ascended  out  of  sight  of  the 
world,  and  I  saw  the  stars  resembling  mountains,  and 
heard  the  Angels  extolling  the  perfection  of  Allah  in 
Heaven.  And  all  the  time  the  Marid  was  amusing  me, 
and  diverting  me  from  mentioning  the  name  of  Allah. 
When,  lo,  a  Being  clad  in  green  garments,  and  having 
long  locks  of  hair,  and  a  shining  countenance,  and  hold- 
ing in  his  hand  a  spear  from  which  sparks  flew,  ap- 
proached me.  And  he  said:  "O  Abou  Mahomed,  say: 
*  There  is  no  Deity  but  Allah,' — or  I  will  smite  thee 
with  this  spear."  And  my  heart  was  ready  to  burst 
because  of  my  not  mentioning  the  name  of  Allah 
(whose  name  be  exalted!)  and  I  said:  "There  is  no 
Deity  but  Allah!"  and  immediately  the  Being  smote 
the  Marid  with  his  spear,  whereupon  he  dissolved  and 
became  ashes.  And  I  fell  from  his  back,  and  continued 
falling  until  I  dropped  into  the  roaring  sea. 

And,  lo,  there  was  near,  a  ship  containing  five  sailors, 
and  when  they  saw  me  they  took  me  up  into  the  vessel, 
and  began  to  speak  to  me  in  a  language  which  I  knew 


1 88    Abou   Mahomed   the   Lazy 

not.  They  proceeded  on  their  voyage  until  they  came 
to  their  own  land.  They  then  took  me  in  to  their 
King,  who  was  acquainted  with  the  Arabic  language, 
and  I  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  He  treated 
me  with  honour,  and  bestowed  upon  me  a  handsome 
dress,  and  appointed  me  one  of  his  guards.  And  I  re- 
sided there  for  the  space  of  a  month,  after  which  I 
went  to  a  river,  and  seated  myself  on  its  bank.  While 
I  was  sitting  there,  lo,  a  horseman  came  and  said: 
"Art  thou  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy?"  I  answered 
him:  "Yes."  And  he  said:  "Fear  not,  for  thy  kind 
conduct  is  known  to  us.  I  am  the  brother  of  the  white 
serpent,  and  thou  art  now  near  unto  the  place  in  which 
is  thy  bride." 

He  then  took  me  up  behind  him,  and  conveyed 
me  to  a  desert  in  which  there  were  two  mountains. 
"Alight,"  said  he,  "and  proceed  between  those  moun- 
tains, until  thou  seest  the  City  of  Brass.  Enter  it  not 
until  I  come  to  thee  again,  and  instruct  thee  how  to  act." 
So  I  replied :  "  I  hear  and  obey."  I  alighted,  and  walked 
on  until  I  arrived  at  the  City,  and  its  walls  were  of 
brass.  I  went  about  it  hoping  to  f  nd  a  gate,  but  I 
found  none.  And  while  I  was  going  round  it,  lo,  the 
brother  of  the  serpent  appeared,  and  gave  me  a  sword 
on  which  were  inscribed  talismans  that  would  prevent 
any  one  from  seeing  me.  He  then  went  his  way. 

In  a  short  time  there  arose  loud  cries,  and  I  beheld  a 
crowd  of  Beings  whose  eyes  were  in  their  breasts.  And 
when  they  saw  me  they  cried  out:  "Who  art  thou,  and 
what  hath  cast  thee  into  this  place?"  So  I  told  them 
all  that  had  happened  to  me  from  beginning  to  end; 
and  they  replied:  "The  damsel  whom  thou  seekest  is 
with  the  Marid  in  the  City  of  Brass,  and  we  know  not 


The   Marid-Ape  189 

what  he  hath  done  with  her.  We  are  the  brothers  of 
the  serpent.  Go  thou  to  yonder  spring,  and  follow  the 
channel  that  passeth  under  the  walls  of  the  City,  and 
enter  thou  with  it."  I  therefore  did  so.  I  entered  the 
water  and  passed  into  a  grotto  beneath  the  earth,  that 
went  under  the  walls;  I  walked  through  it,  and  rising 
beheld  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  City  of  Brass. 

And  there  I  found  the  damsel,  my  bride,  sitting  upon 
a  couch  of  gold,  under  a  canopy  of  brocade,  in  the  middle 
of  a  garden  containing  trees  of  gold,  the  fruits  of  which 
were  precious  jewels  such  as  rubies,  chrysolites,  and 
pearls  and  coral.  And  when  she  saw  me  she  uttered  a 
cry,  and  saluted  me,  saying:  "O  my  master,  what  hath 
brought  thee  to  this  place?"  So  I  told  her  all  that  had 
happened.  And  she  replied:  "Know  that  this  accursed 
wretch  because  he  loves  me  so  much,  hath  told  me 
what  will  injure  him!  He  hath  informed  me  that  there 
is  in  this  City  a  talisman  upon  a  pillar.  It  is  shaped 
like  an  eagle,  and  upon  it  is  a  mysterious  inscription. 
Go,  find  this  talisman.  Then  take  it,  and  place  it  be- 
fore thee,  and  take  a  censer  full  of  fire,  and  throw  into 
it  a  little  musk,  ^hereupon  there  will  rise  a  smoke  that 
will  attract  the  Afrites  who  are  the  servants  of  the 
talisman.  They  will  obey  thy  command  and  do  what- 
soever thou  shalt  order  them.  Arise  therefore,  and 
do  this,  and  may  the  blessing  of  Allah  (whose  name 
be  exalted!)  attend  thee."  So  I  replied:  "I  hear  and 
obey." 

I  arose,  and  found  the  pillar,  and  did  all  as  she  desired 
me  to  do.  The  Afrites  came  and  presented  themselves, 
saying:  "At  thy  service,  O  our  master.  Whatsoever 
thou  commandest  us  to  do,  we  will  do  it."  And  I 
answered:  "Chain  the  Marid  who  brought  this  damsel 


i  go    Abou   Mahomed   the   Lazy 

from  her  abode."  They  disappeared  immediately,  and 
finding  the  Marid  they  chained  him,  making  his  bonds 
tight.  They  then  returned  to  me,  saying:  "We  have 
done  what  thou  hast  commanded  us."  Then  I  released 
them  and  they  went  their  way.  And  taking  my  wife, 
I  went  forth  from  the  City,  by  the  subterranean  grotto, 
through  which  I  had  entered.  And  we  proceeded  until 
we  came  to  the  Beings  with  their  eyes  in  their  breasts. 

And  they  guided  us  and  walked  with  us  to  the  shore 
of  the  sea,  where  we  found  a  ship.  They  placed  us  on 
board,  and  the  wind  was  favourable,  and  the  ship  con- 
veyed us  to  the  City  of  Balsora.  And  when  the  damsel 
entered  the  house  of  her  father  the  Shereef ,  her  family 
rejoiced  exceedingly. 

I  then  took  the  talisman  shaped  like  an  eagle,  and 
burned  musk  in  a  censer,  and,  lo,  the  Afrites  came  from 
every  quarter,  saying:  "At  thy  service,  O  our  master, 
and  what  dost  thou  desire  us  to  do?"  And  I  com- 
manded them  to  transport  all  the  money,  and  precious 
stones,  and  jewels  that  were  in  the  City  of  Brass,  to 
my  house  in  Balsora.  And  they  did  so.  After  that  I 
commanded  them  to  bring  me  the  ape,  and  they 
brought  him  in  an  abject  and  despicable  condition. 
Whereupon  I  said  to  him:  "O  thou  accursed,  why 
didst  thou  act  so  treacherously  to  me?"  And  I  com- 
manded the  Genii  to  put  him  into  a  bottle  of  brass. 
So  they  put  him  into  a  narrow  bottle  of  brass,  and 
stopped  its  mouth  with  lead.  And  I  resided  with  my 
wife  in  joy  and  happiness. 

I  have  now,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  a  great  store 
of  precious  treasures,  and  wonderful  jewels,  and  abun- 
dant wealth  without  limit.  And  if  thou  desirest  any- 
thing, I  will  command  my  Genii  to  bring  it  to  thee  im- 


The  Marid-Ape  191 

mediately.    All  this  have  I  received  from  the  bounty 
of  Allah,  whose  name  be  exalted! 

And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  wondered  at  this 
story.  He  gave  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  presents  in 
return  for  his  gifts,  and  treated  him  with  all  favour. 


Chapter  VII 


STORY  OF  ABDALLAH  OF  THE  LAND 
AND  ABDALLAH  OF  THE  SEA 

THE  SEA-JEWELS 

HERE  was  a  fisherman  named  Abdallah,  who 
had  nine  children  and  a  wife,  and  was  very  poor. 
He  used  to  go  every  day  to  the  sea  to  fish. 
He  sold  what  he  caught,  and  spent  the  money 
on  his  children.  The  day  came  when  his  wife 
gave  birth  to  another  child,  and  there  was 
nothing  to  eat  in  the  house.  So  Abdallah  said:  "Lo, 
I  am  going  to  fish,  relying  on  the  blessing  of  Allah 
whose  name  be  exalted!  Possibly  to-day  good  luck 
will  befall  me  for  the  sake  of  this  new-born  child." 

Accordingly  he  took  the  net,  and  going  to  the  sea, 
he  cast  it,  and  waited  awhile;  then  he  drew  it  up,  and 
it  was  full  of  rubbish  and  sand  and  pebbles  and  grass. 
So  he  cast  it  a  second  time,  and  waited,  and  drew  it, 
but  it  came  up  empty.  And  he  cast  it  a  third  time,  and 
a  fourth  time,  and  a  fifth,  and  it  came  up  with  nothing 
in  it.  He  therefore  removed  to  another  place,  but 
caught  nothing.  And  thus  he  ceased  not  to  do  until 
the  close  of  day,  but  caught  not  a  single  minnow.  And 
he  said  to  himself:  "Hath  Allah  created  this  new-born 
child  without  providing  it  with  food?  Surely  He  who 
hath  opened  its  mouth,  will  give  it  the  necessary  sub- 

192 


The  Sea-Jewels  193 

sistence;  and  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  is  bounti- 
ful, and  a  liberal  supplier  of  good  things." 

He  then  took  his  net  and  returned  home  with  broken 
spirit,  sorrowing  in  his  heart  because  he  had  no  food 
for  his  wife  and  children.  He  passed  by  a  baker's  oven, 
and  smelling  the  hot  bread,  stopped  and  looked. 
Thereupon  the  baker  called  out  to  him:  "Come  hither, 

0  fisherman.    Dost  thou  wish  bread?"    And  Abdallah 
was  silent.     But  the  baker  said:  "Speak,  do  not  be 
ashamed;  for  Allah  is  bountiful.    If  thou  hast  no  money, 

1  will  give  thee  bread,  and  will  wait  until  good  shall 
betide  thee,  and  thou  canst  pay  for  it."    The  fisherman 
replied:  "Verily,  O  my  master,  I  have  no  money,  but 
give  me  bread  for  my  family,  and  I  will  leave  my  net 
with  thee  in  payment."    "O  poor  man,"  answered  the 
baker,  "verily  this  net  is  thine  only  means  of  support, 
and  if  thou  leave  it  with  me,  with  what  wilt  thou  fish? 
Here  is  some  bread  together  with  ten  nusfs.     Take 
these  and  to-morrow  bring  me  their  value  in  fish." 
And  the  fisherman  replied:  "May  Allah  (whose  name 
be  exalted!)  reward  thee  with  everything  good!"    And 
he  took  the  bread  and  the  money,  and  went  away  happy, 
and  having  bought  some  food,  returned  to  his  wife. 
He  found  her  soothing  the  children,  who  were  weeping 
from  hunger,  saying  to  them:  "Your  father  will  soon 
come  and  bring  you  something  to  eat."     So  he  went 
into  the  house,  and  put  the  food  before  them,  and  they 
did  eat.    And  he  told  his  wife  all  that  had  happened  to 
him,  and  she  said:  "Verily  Allah  is  bountiful!" 

On  the  following  day  he  took  the  net,  and  went  forth 
to  fish.  And  when  he  came  to  the  sea  he  cast  the  net 
and  drew  it,  but  no  fish  came  up  in  it.  He  ceased  not  to 
do  so  until  the  close  of  day,  and  got  nothing.  He  re- 


194  Story   of  Abdallah 

turned  in  great  grief,  and  the  way  to  his  house  led  by 
the  baker's  oven.  He  quickened  his  pace  so  that  he 
might  not  be  seen,  for  he  was  ashamed;  but  the  baker 
looked  up,  and  cried,  saying:  "O  fisherman,  come  hither. 
Receive  thy  bread  and  money  as  thou  didst  yesterday. 
Be  not  ashamed,  but  take  thy  time  about  paying  for  it, 
and  may  good  betide  thee!"  Then  the  baker  gave  him 
bread  and  ten  nusfs,  and  Abdallah  went  joyfully  to  his 
wife,  and  informed  her  of  all  that  had  happened.  And 
she  said:  "Verily  Allah  is  bountiful!  If  it  be  His  will, 
good  fortune  will  betide  thee,  and  thou  shalt  pay  the 
baker  all  that  is  due  him." 

And  Abdallah  ceased  not  going  to  the  sea,  every  day 
for  forty  days,  but  he  caught  nothing.  And  every  day 
the  baker,  without  mentioning  his  pay,  gave  him  bread 
and  ten  nusfs,  saying:  "Go,  O  my  brother,  this  is  not 
the  time  for  reckoning,  wait  until  good  shall  betide 
thee,  and  then  will  I  reckon  with  thee."  And  every 
day  Abdallah  said  to  his  wife:  "I  now  owe  the  baker  a 
great  sum.  When  will  the  good  that  we  hope  for  come?  " 
And  she  replied:  "Allah  is  bountiful!  Only  have 
patience."  And  Abdallah  said:  "Thou  hast  spoken  the 
truth." 

And  on  the  one  and  fortieth  day,  the  fisherman  took 
up  his  net,  and  repaired  to  the  sea,  saying:  "O  Allah, 
supply  me  if  only  with  one  fish,  that  I  may  give  it  to 
the  baker!"  Then  he  cast  his  net  into  the  sea,  and 
drew  it  and  found  it  heavy.  He  pulled  at  it  until  he 
drew  it  forth  and  he  saw  in  it  a  dead  ass.  At  this  he 
was  filled  with  grief  and  disappointment,  and  throwing 
aside  the  ass,  went  to  another  place  and  took  the  net, 
and  cast  it,  and  waited  awhile.  Then  he  drew  it  and 
found  it  very  heavy;  and  he  ceased  not  to  pull  and 


ABDALLAH  SAW  IN  THE  NET,  A  CREATURE  SHAPED  LIKE  A  HUMAN  BEING, 
BUT  HAVING  A  TAIL 


The   Sea-Jewels  195 

strain  until  the  blood  burst  from  his  hands.  And  when 
he  had  drawn  forth  the  net  he  saw  in  it  a  creature  shaped 
like  a  human  being,  but  having  a  tail. 

The  fisherman  thought  that  he  was  one  of  those  evil 
Afrites,  whom  the  lord  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on 
both  of  whom  be  peace!)  did  imprison  in  bottles  of 
brass,  and  cast  into  the  sea.  He  imagined  that  the  bottle 
had  burst  and  that  the  Afrite  had  issued  from  it  and 
come  up  in  the  net.  In  great  fear  he  cried  aloud,  saying : 
"Mercy!  Mercy!  O  Afrite  of  Solomon!"  But  the 
creature  exclaimed:  "Come  hither,  O  fisherman,  and 
liberate  me  from  this  net!  Flee  not  from  me,  for  I  am 
a  human  being  like  thyself.  Liberate  me  and  I  will 
richly  repay  thee." 

So  when  the  fisherman  heard  this  he  lost  fear,  and 
drawing  near  said:  "Art  thou  not  an  Afrite  of  the 
Genii?"  And  the  creature  answered:  "Nay,  but  I  am 
a  man,  a  believer  in  Allah."  "And  who  threw  thee 
into  the  sea?"  asked  Abdallah.  "I  belong  to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  sea,"  replied  the  creature,  "and  I  was  walk- 
ing on  the  floor  of  the  ocean,  when  thou  didst  cast  thy 
net  over  me.  We  of  the  sea  are  a  people  obedient  to 
the  laws  of  Allah  whose  name  be  exalted!  If  thou 
wilt  deliver  me  and  permit  me  to  return  to  the  sea,  I 
will  make  a  covenant  with  thee  and  become  thy  com- 
panion. Every  day  will  I  come  to  thee  in  this  place, 
bringing  thee  a  gift.  And  every  day  thou  shalt  bring 
me  a  present  of  the  fruits  of  the  land,  grapes,  and  figs, 
and  watermelons,  and  peaches,  and  pomegranates,  and 
other  fruits.  And  my  gift  shall  consist  of  fruits  of  the 
sea, — corals,  and  pearls,  and  chrysolites,  and  emeralds, 
and  jacinths,  and  other  jewels.  So  I  shall  fill  for  thee 
the  basket,  in  which  thou  wilt  bring  me  fruits,  with  the 


196  Story   of  Abdallah 


precious  stones  and  the  jewels  of  the  sea.  What  sayest 
thou,  O  my  brother,  to  this  proposal?" — And  the  fish- 
erman answered:  "Let  us  recite  a  prayer  in  confirma- 
tion of  this  agreement." 

So  they  recited  a  prayer,  and  the  fisherman  liberated 
the  creature  from  the  net,  and  said:  "What  is  thy 
name?"  And  he  answered:  "My  name  is  Abdallah  of 
the  Sea;  and  if  thou  wish  at  any  time  to  see  me,  come  to 
this  place  and  call  out:  'Where  art  thou,  O  Abdallah, 
O  thou  of  the  Sea?'  And  I  will  be  with  thee  instantly. 
And  do  thou,  O  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  remain  here  now 
while  I  go  and  bring  thee  a  present."  And  the  fisher- 
man replied:  "I  hear  and  obey."  And  Abdallah  of  the 
Sea  dived  into  the  water,  and  Abdallah  of  the  Land 
regretted  that  he  had  liberated  him  from  the  net,  say- 
ing to  himself:  "How  do  I  know  that  he  will  return  to 
me?  If  I  had  kept  him,  I  could  have  taken  him  to 
the  city,  and  shown  him  to  the  people  and  received 
money." 

And  while  the  fisherman  was  lamenting,  lo,  Abdallah 
of  the  Sea  returned  with  his  hands  filled  with  pearls, 
and  corals,  and  emeralds,  and  jacinths,  and  other  jewels. 
And  he  said:  "Receive  these,  O  my  brother,  and  blame 
me  not  because  they  are  so  few.  If  I  had  a  basket  I 
would  fill  it  for  thee."  And  Abdallah  of  the  Land  re- 
joiced, and  received  the  jewels,  and  his  companion  said 
to  him:  "Come  every  day  to  this  place  before  sunrise." 
He  then  bade  the  fisherman  farewell  and  departed, 
and  entered  the  water. 

As  to  the  fisherman,  he  returned  to  the  city,  joyful, 
and  going  to  the  baker  said:  "O  my  brother,  good  hath 
betided  me;  therefore  reckon  with  me."  But  the  baker 
replied:  "No  reckoning  is  necessary.  Wait  awhile  till 


The   Sea-Jewels  197 

more  good  betide  thee."  And  Abdallah  of  the  Land 
replied:  "O  my  companion,  good  hath  betided  me  from 
the  bounty  of  Allah.  Therefore  take  these."  And  he 
gave  him  a  handful  of  pearls,  and  corals,  and  jacinths, 
and  other  jewels,  being  half  of  what  he  had  received 
from  Abdallah  of  the  Sea. 

And  the  baker  was  astonished  at  the  sight  of  the 
jewels,  and  he  gathered  together  all  the  bread  he  had, 
and,  placing  it  in  a  basket,  walked  behind  the  fisherman 
to  his  house,  and  gave  the  bread  to  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren. Then  the  baker  went  forth  and  bought  meat  and 
vegetables  and  all  kinds  of  fruit.  He  closed  his  oven, 
and  remained  all  day  with  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  serv- 
ing him,  and  waiting  upon  him.  So  the  fisherman  said 
to  him:  "O  my  brother,  thou  hast  wearied  thyself  for 
me."  The  baker  replied:  "I  have  become  thy  servant 
because  of  thy  great  generosity."  But  said  the  fisherman 
to  him:  "It  is  I  who  am  indebted  to  thee,  for  thou  wast 
my  benefactor  in  the  time  of  distress  and  famine." 
And  the  baker  passed  that  night  with  him,  and  ate  and 
drank  with  him,  and  became  the  fisherman's  faithful 
servant.  The  fisherman  then  informed  his  wife  of  his 
adventure  with  Abdallah  of  the  Sea,  whereat  she  re- 
joiced, and  bade  him  keep  it  a  secret.  But  he  said: 
"Verily  I  will  tell  no  one  except  the  baker,  him  will  I 
tell  all." 

And  when  the  morning  was  come  the  fisherman  arose 
early,  and  filled  a  basket  with  fruits  of  all  kinds.  He 
carried  it  before  sunrise  down  to  the  shore,  and  cried 
out:  "Where  art  thou,  O  Abdallah,  O  thou  of  the  Sea?" 
And,  lo,  his  companion  arose  to  the  surface  of  the  water 
and  came  forth  saying:  "At  thy  service,  O  my  brother." 
Then  he  took  the  basket  of  fruit  from  the  fisherman, 


198  Story   of  Abdallah 


and,  diving  into  the  sea,  was  absent  for  a  little  while, 
after  which  he  came  forth  having  the  basket  filled  with 
all  kinds  of  precious  stones  and  jewels. 

So  Abdallah  of  the  Land  put  the  basket  upon  his 
head,  and  departed.  And  when  he  came  to  the  oven 
of  the  baker,  he  saw  the  baker  standing  there,  and  he 
gave  him  three  handfuls  of  jewels.  Then  the  fisherman 
went  to  his  house,  and  set  down  his  basket,  and  took 
from  it  several  large  jewels.  He  repaired  to  the  jewel- 
market,  and  stopping  at  the  shop  of  a  sheikh,  he  showed 
him  the  jewels,  saying:  "Wilt  thou  purchase  these  of 
me?"  And  when  the  sheikh  saw  the  beauty  of  the 
jewels,  he  took  them  from  the  fisherman,  saying  to  his 
servants:  "Seize  and  bind  this  man,  for  he  is  the  thief 
who  stole  the  necklace  of  the  Queen."  So  they  bound 
him,  and  beat  him;  and,  accompanied  by  all  the  people 
of  the  jewel-market,  took  him  in  to  the  King.  All  this 
while  the  fisherman  was  silent,  but  the  sheikh  said:  "O 
King  of  the  age,  we  have  captured  the  thief  who  stole 
the  Queen's  necklace;  and  here  are  the  jewels  which  we 
have  rescued  from  his  hand." 

The  King  therefore  said  to  a  eunuch:  "Take  these 
stones  to  the  Queen  and  ask  her  if  they  are  the  ones  she 
lost."  The  eunuch  did  so,  and  returning  to  the  King 
said:  "The  Queen  saith:  'I  have  found  my  necklace  in 
its  place,  and  these  are  not  my  property;  and  these 
jewels  are  finer  than  my  jewels.  Act  not  unjustly  to 
this  man,  but  if  he  will  sell  these,  buy  them  for  our 
daughter  Ummalsoud."  When  the  King  heard  the 
words  he  reproached  the  sheikh  and  the  people  froi 
the  jewel-market,  saying:  "Get  ye  hence!  May  Allal 
not  bless  you!"  And  they  went  forth  in  a  state  of 
great  fear. 


The  Sea-Jewels  199 

The  King  then  said  to  the  fisherman:  "O  man,  may 
Allah  bless  thee  in  what  he  hath  bestowed  upon  thee! 
Now  acquaint  me  with  the  truth.  Whence  came  these 
jewels?  For  I  am  a  King,  and  the  like  of  them  I  have 
never  seen  before."  So  Abdallah  of  the  Land  said: 
"O  King  of  the  age,  I  have  a  basket  full  of  them." 
And  he  told  about  his  companionship  with  Abdallah  of 
the  Sea  from  beginning  to  end,  and  about  the  exchange 
of  fruits  of  the  sea  and  fruits  of  the  land.  And  the  King 
wondered  and  said:  "O  man,  wealth  requireth  an  ex- 
alted station.  Therefore  I  will  marry  thee  to  my  daugh- 
ter, and  make  thee  Vizier  of  my  right  hand." 

Then  the  King  caused  Abdallah  of  the  Land  to  be 
arrayed  in  fine  garments,  and  he  appointed  him  his 
Vizier.  He  ordered  the  soldiers  to  go  to  Abdallah's 
house,  and  clothe  his  wife  and  children  in  rich  dresses, 
and  bring  them  to  the  palace  in  a  litter,  accompanied 
by  all  the  wives  of  the  soldiers,  and  by  troops  of  honour. 
And  they  conducted  her  to  the  King's  palace  with  the 
little  infant  lying  in  her  bosom.  They  fetched  her  elder 
children  to  the  King,  who  took  them  upon  his  lap  and 
seated  them  beside  him.  They  were  nine  boys,  each  as 
beautiful  as  the  full  moon.  As  to  the  Queen  she  treated 
the  wife  of  Abdallah  of  the  Land  with  all  honour,  and 
bestowed  favours  upon  her.  The  King  then  gave  orders 
to  perform  the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  marriage  of 
Abdallah  of  the  Land  to  his  daughter,  Ummalsoud, 
and  ordered  that  the  city  should  be  decorated. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  King  looked  out  from 
his  window,  and  saw  Abdallah  of  the  Land  carrying 
upon  his  head  a  basket  full  of  fruits.  So  he  called  to 
him:  "What  is  this,  O  my  son-in-law,  and  whither  goest 
thou?"  And  Abdallah  of  the  Land  replied:  "I  go  to 


2oo  Story   of  Abdallah 

my  companion,  Abdallah  of  the  Sea.  If  I  kept  not  my 
promise,  he  would  think  me  a  liar,  and  say  that  worldly 
matters  had  caused  me  to  forget  him."  And  the  King 
said:  "Thou  hast  spoken  the  truth.  Go  to  thy  com- 
panion. May  Allah  bless  thee!"  So  Abdallah  walked 
through  the  city,  and  he  heard  those  who  knew  of  his 
adventure  saying:  "There  is  the  King's  son-in-law 
going  to  exchange  fruits  for  the  sea-jewels."  And  those 
who  did  not  know  this  took  him  for  a  vender  and  called 
after  him:  "O  man,  how  much  is  thy  fruit  a  pound? 
Come  hither,  and  sell  to  us."  And  he  laughed  and 
passed  on.  He  went  down  to  the  shore  and  met  Ab- 
dallah of  the  Sea,  who  took  the  fruits  and  gave  him 
jewels  instead. 

And  Abdallah  of  the  Land  ceased  not  to  do  thus 
every  morning  for  the  space  of  ten  days,  and  he  passed 
the  baker's  oven  daily  and  saw  that  it  was  closed.  He 
then  asked  a  neighbour,  saying:  "Where  is  my  brother, 
the  baker?"  And  the  man  answered:  "O  my  master, 
he  is  ill."  So  Abdallah  of  the  Land  repaired  to  his 
house,  and  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  baker  look- 
ing out  at  a  window,  saw  his  companion  the  fisherman 
with  a  full  basket  upon  his  head,  and  he  descended  and 
opened  the  door.  And  Abdallah  of  the  Land  threw  him- 
self upon  him,  and  embraced  him,  saying:  "How  art 
thou,  O  my  companion?  For  every  day  I  have  passed  by 
thine  oven  and  seen  it  closed.  Then  I  asked  thy  neigh- 
bour, and  he  informed  me  that  thou  wast  sick."  The 
baker  replied:  "May  Allah  recompense  thee  for  thy 
goodness !  I  have  no  disease,  but  I  heard  that  the  King 
had  taken  thee  for  a  thief,  so  I  feared,  and  closed  my 
oven  and  hid  myself."  Then  Abdallah  of  the  Land 
informed  him  of  all  that  had  happened  to  him,  and  how 


The   Sea-Jewels  201 

the  King  had  married  him  to  his  daughter,  and  had 
made  him  Vizier  of  his  right  hand. 

And  leaving  the  basket  of  jewels  with  the  baker, 
Abdallah  of  the  Land  returned  to  the  King,  who 
seeing  no  jewels,  said:  "O  my  son-in-law,  hast  thou 
not  met  Abdallah  of  the  Sea?"  And  Abdallah  of  the 
Land  replied:  "I  have  given  my  companion  the  baker 
all  the  jewels  I  received  this  day,  for  I  owe  him 
much  for  his  kindness,"  and  he  told  the  King  all  that 
the  baker  had  done  to  him.  And  the  King  said: 
"What  is  his  name?"  And  he  answered:  "His  name 
is  Abdallah  the  Baker,  and  my  name  is  Abdallah  of 
the  Land,  and  my  other  companion's  name  is  Abdallah 
of  the  Sea!"  "And  verily,"  said  the  King,  "I  am  Ab- 
dallah the  King;  which  name  meaneth  the  Servant  of 
Allah.  So  we  are  all  servants  of  Allah,  and  are  all 
brethren.  Send,  therefore,  to  thy  companion  the  baker, 
and  bring  him  hither  so  that  I  may  make  him  Vizier  of 
my  left  hand." 

Accordingly  Abdallah  of  the  Land  sent  for  the  baker, 
and  when  he  came  the  King  invested  him  with  a  robe 
of  honour,  and  made  him  Vizier  of  his  left  hand.  After 
this  Abdallah  of  the  Land  continued  for  a  whole  year 
to  take  every  day  a  basket  full  of  fruits  to  the  shore, 
and  returned  with  it  full  of  precious  stones  and  jewels. 
And  when  the  fresh  fruits  were  not  ripe,  he  took  a  bas- 
ket full  of  raisins  and  almonds,  and  hazelnuts,  and 
walnuts,  and  figs,  and  other  things.  All  that  he  took 
Abdallah  of  the  Sea  accepted  from  him,  and  gave  him 
the  basket  full  of  jewels  as  was  his  custom. 


202  Story   of  Abdallah 


THE  SEA-CITIES 

|OW  it  happened,  one  day,  that  Abdallah  of  the 
Land  took  a  basket  of  dried  fruits  to  the  shore, 
and  his  companion  received  them  as  usual. 
After  which  Abdallah  of  the  Land  sat  upon  a 
rock,  and  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  sat  in  the  water, 
and  they  conversed  together.  And  Abdallah  of 
the  Sea  said:  "O  my  brother,  is  the  Prophet  Mohammed 
(may  Allah  bless  and  save  him!)  buried  among  you  in 
the  land?"  And  he  answered:  "Yes,  he  is  buried  in  the 
City  of  Medina,  and  the  people  of  the  land  visit  his 
tomb.  I  have  not  made  the  pilgrimage,  because 
hitherto  I  have  been  a  poor  man.  But  since  thou  hast 
bestowed  prosperity  upon  me,  nothing  but  my  affection 
for  thee  hath  prevented  my  doing  so.  I  cannot  separate 
myself  from  thee  for  one  day ! "  Then  said  Abdallah  of 
the  Sea,  "And  dost  thou  prefer  thy  affection  for  me 
above  visiting  the  tomb  of  the  Prophet!  and  for  the  sake 
of  the  love  of  this  world  dost  thou  neglect  thy  duty? 
Verily  this  is  wrong."  "Nay,"  replied  Abdallah  of  the 
Land,  "above  everything  else  I  prefer  to  visit  his  tomb, 
and  I  desire  of  thee  permission  that  I  may  visit  it  this 
year."  "I  give  thee  my  permission,"  said  Abdallah 
of  the  Sea,  "and  I  will  intrust  to  thee  an  offering  to 
present  in  my  stead  at  his  tomb.  Enter  the  sea  with 
me,  so  that  I  may  take  thee  to  my  city,  and  give  thee 
the  offering." 

Abdallah  of  the  Land  said:  "O  my  brother,  thou  wast 
created  in  the  water,  and  the  water  is  thy  abode. 
I  was  created  on  the  land,  and  the  land  is  my  abode, 


The   Sea-Cities  203 

but  if  I  enter  the  sea,  I  shall  die."  "Fear  not  that," 
replied  Abdallah  of  the  Sea.  "Take  this  ointment  and 
anoint  thy  body,  and  the  water  will  not  injure  thee." 
And  he  presented  the  fisherman  with  an  ointment 
yellow  as  gold  and  sweet  of  scent,  saying:  "This  is 
made  of  the  liver  of  the  Dendan  fish.  It  is  the  greatest 
of  all  sea-things  and  the  most  violent  of  our  enemies. 
Its  form  is  larger  than  that  of  any  beast  on  land,  and 
it  can  swallow  an  elephant  or  camel  whole.  But  know 
that  it  feareth  the  voice  of  a  son  of  Adam,  for  when  it 
heareth  a  human  cry  the  fish  immediately  dieth." 

Upon  hearing  this  Abdallah  of  the  Land  pulled  off 
his  clothes,  and  hid  them,  after  which  he  anointed  his 
body  with  the  ointment.  He  then  descended  into  the 
water,  and  dived,  and  opened  his  eyes.  He  found  him- 
self walking  upon  the  sea-bottom,  while  the  water 
formed  as  it  were  a  tent  over  his  head,  and  it  injured 
him  not.  Then  said  Abdallah  of  the  Sea:  "Follow  me." 
And  he  followed  him,  and  saw  upon  his  right  hand  and 
left  great  mountains  of  water  in  which  fishes  of  all  kinds 
swam  and  dived.  Some  resembled  buffaloes,  and  others 
were  like  oxen,  and  some  like  dogs,  and  others  like 
human  beings.  And  all  the  fishes  fled  on  seeing  Abdal- 
lah of  the  Land.  He  ceased  not  to  divert  himself  with 
the  sight  of  the  sea- wonders,  until  they  came  to  a  high 
mountain.  Suddenly  he  heard  a  great  cry,  and  looking 
up  saw  something  huge  and  black  descending  upon 
him  from  the  mountain,  and  it  was  larger  than  a  camel. 
"O  my  brother,"  exclaimed  Abdallah  of  the  Sea,  "this 
is  the  Dendan  fish!  Cry  out  before  it  reacheth  us, 
otherwise  it  will  seize  and  devour  me!"  Accordingly 
Abdallah  of  the  Land  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice,  and 
immediately  the  fish  fell  down  dead. 


204  Story   of  Abdallah 

They  then  walked  on  until  they  arrived  at  a  city 
whose  inhabitants  were  all  damsels.  And  Abdallah  of 
the  Sea  said:  "This  is  the  City  of  Damsels,  for  hither 
the  King  of  the  Sea  banisheth  all  disobedient  damsels, 
and  they  cannot  come  forth  from  the  City,  but  must 
abide  here  for  ever.  But  in  the  other  cities  of  this 
kingdom  are  both  men  and  women."  Then  Abdallah 
of  the  Land  saw  that  the  damsels  were  as  beautiful  as 
moons,  and  that  they  were  shaped  like  human  beings, 
only  they  had  tails  like  the  tails  of  fishes. 

They  then  walked  to  another  city,  which  was  inhab- 
ited by  men  and  women,  each  of  whom  had  a  tail  like 
the  tail  of  a  fish.  And  they  proceeded  walking  from  city 
to  city  for  the  space  of  eighty  days,  until  they  had  seen 
eighty  cities.  Then  said  Abdallah  of  the  Sea:  "Were  I 
to  divert  thee  for  a  thousand  years,  every  day  with  the 
sight  of  a  thousand  cities,  I  could  not  begin  to  show  thee 
the  twenty-fourth  part  of  the  cities  of  the  sea,  nor  its 
wonders."  "O  my  brother,  since  that  is  the  case," 
answered  the  fisherman,  "I  have  seen  enough,  and  am 
weary  of  eating  uncooked  fish  for  eighty  days!  Take 
me  now  to  thy  city,  and  to  thy  abode." 

So  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  conducted  him  to  a  small 
city  near  the  shore,  and  all  the  houses  were  caves  in 
the  sides  of  mountains.  They  came  to  the  mouth  of  a 
large  cave,  and  entered.  And,  lo,  there  advanced  to 
meet  them  the  daughter  of  Abdallah  of  the  Sea,  and 
her  face  was  as  beautiful  as  the  full  moon,  and  her  hair 
was  long,  and  her  eyes  large  and  black;  but  she  had  a 
tail.  And  when  she  saw  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  she  ex- 
claimed: "O  my  father,  what  is  this  tailless  creature?" 
"This  is  my  companion  from  the  land,"  he  answered, 
"from  whom  I  used  to  bring  thee  grapes,  and  melons, 


The  Sea-Cities  205 

and  peaches,  and  figs,  and  pomegranates,  and  other 
delightful  fruits.  Come  hither,  and  salute  him."  She 
then  welcomed  the  fisherman  and  brought  him  two 
large  fishes,  each  the  size  of  a  lamb,  and  he  was  forced 
to  eat  them  because  of  his  hunger.  Presently  the 
wife  of  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  approached.  She  was  of 
beautiful  form,  but  she  had  a  tail,  and  with  her  were 
two  children  with  tails,  each  nibbling  a  small  fish  as  a 
land  child  nibbles  a  sweetmeat.  And  when  she  saw 
,  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  she  said:  "O  my  husband,  what 
is  this  tailless  creature?"  And  the  two  children  cried 
out :  "Yes !  Yes !  See,  he  has  no  tail ! "  And  they  laughed 
at  him.  So  Abdallah  of  the  Land  said  to  his  companion, 
"Hast  thou  brought  me  here  to  make  me  a  laughing- 
stock to  thy  wife  and  children?"  "Pardon,  O  my 
brother,"  replied  Abdallah  of  the  Sea.  "Be  not  dis- 
pleased with  these  young  children  and  this  woman. 
They  have  never  seen  any  one  without  a  tail,  and  their 
intellects  are  defective."  Then  he  cried  out  to  his 
family:  "Be  silent!"  So  they  feared  and  were  silent. 

And  while  they  were  conversing  thus,  lo,  ten  men 
strong  and  great,  with  tails,  advanced  and  said:  "O 
Abdallah  of  the  Sea,  it  hath  been  told  the  King  that 
there  is  with  thee  a  tailless  creature,  of  the  tailless 
creatures  of  the  land.  Arise,  therefore,  and  bring  him 
before  the  King."  So  he  arose,  and  took  the  fisher- 
man, and  conducted  him  to  the  King  who,  when  he 
saw  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  laughed  and  cried  out:  "Wel- 
come, thou  tailless  one!"  And  all  the  King's  attend- 
ants began  to  laugh  at  him,  saying:  "Yea,  verily  he 
hath  no  tail!"  Then  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  advanced  to 
the  King,  and  cast  himself  before  the  throne,  and  told 
all  that  had  happened  between  him  and  the  fisherman, 


206  Story   of  Abdallah 

and  begged  that  his  companion  might  be  restored  in 
safety  to  the  land.  And  the  King  said:  "Since  he  is 
thy  friend,  we  will  return  him  in  safety  to  the  shore, 
but  first  he  must  partake  of  a  banquet."  So  the  serv- 
ants brought  fishes  of  many  shapes  and  colours,  and 
Abdallah  of  the  Land  was  forced  to  eat  them. 

Then  said  the  King:  "Demand  of  me  what  thou 
wilt."  "Give  me,"  replied  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  "a 
present  of  jewels."  "Take  him  to  the  jewel-house," 
said  the  King,  "and  permit  him  to  take  all  he  desireth." 
So  they  took  the  fisherman  to  the  jewel-house,  and  he 
selected  as  many  large  sea-jewels  as  he  could  carry. 
After  which  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  gave  him  an  offering 
in  a  purse,  saying:  "Take  this  to  the  tomb  of  the 
Prophet,  and  present  it  for  me."  And  the  fisherman 
took  it,  not  knowing  what  was  in  it. 

Then  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  led  him  forth  to  conduct 
him  to  the  land.  And  on  his  way,  the  fisherman  saw 
a  company  of  people  eating  and  singing  merrily  before 
a  table  spread  with  a  feast  of  choice  fish.  So  he  said: 
"O  my  brother,  why  are  these  people  rejoicing?  Do 
they  celebrate  a  wedding?"  "There  is  no  wedding 
here,"  replied  Abdallah  of  the  Sea,  "but  a  person  is 
dead."  "What!"  said  Abdallah  of  the  Land,  "when 
a  person  dieth,  do  ye  rejoice,  and  sing  and  eat?  Among 
us,  when  one  dieth,  we  mourn  for  him,  and  weep,  and 
rend  our  garments  in  grief  for  him  who  is  dead."  Upon 
this  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  stared  at  Abdallah  of  the  Land, 
and  said:  "Give  me  back  my  offering!"  So  he  gave  it 
back.  Then  Abdallah  of  the  Sea  took  him  to  the  shore, 
and  placed  him  upon  the  land,  saying:  "This  day  my 
friendship  for  thee  is  broken!"  "Wherefore,"  said 
Abdallah  of  the  Land,  "is  it  broken?"  Abdallah  of  the 


The   Sea-Cities  207 

Sea  replied:  "Are  ye  not,  O  people  of  the  land,  the 
property  of  Allah?  How  is  it  then  when  He  taketh  his 
property  that  ye  do  not  rejoice  but  weep?  When  He 
taketh  the  soul,  which  is  his  own,  how  is  it  that  ye 
grieve  and  mourn?  Since  ye  are  so  ungrateful  I  have 
no  need  of  thy  friendship." — And  Abdallah  of  the  Sea 
dived  into  the  water,  and  disappeared  from  the  fisher- 
man's sight. 

Then  Abdallah  of  the  Land  put  on  his  clothes,  and 
taking  his  jewels,  repaired  to  the  King,  to  whom  he  told 
his  story  and  what  he  had  seen  of  the  wonders  of  the 
sea.  And  every  day  before  sunrise  for  the  period  of 
ten  days,  the  fisherman  went  to  the  shore,  and  called 
Abdallah  of  the  Sea,  but  he  answered  not.  So  Abdallah 
of  the  Land  lost  the  hope  of  ever  seeing  him  again; 
and  after  this  he  and  the  King,  and  his  wives  and  chil- 
dren, continued  to  reside  in  the  most  happy  state  and 
in  the  practice  of  good  deeds,  until  they  were  visited  by 
the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  com- 
panions. 


Chapter  VIII 


STORY  OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AND  THE 
FAIRY  PERIEBANOU 

THE  PRINCESS  NOURONNIHAR  AND  THE 
THREE  RARITIES 


N  ancient  days  there  lived  a  Sultan  who  had  ruled 
over  India  for  many  years,  and  who  had  the  satis- 
faction in  his  old  age  of  having  three  sons.  They 


together  with  the  Princess  his  niece  were  the  orna- 
ments of  his  court.     The  eldest  of  the  Princes 
was  named  Houssain;  the  second,  Ali;  the  young- 
est, Ahmed;  and  the  Princess,  his  niece,  Nouronnihar. 

The  Princess  Nouronnihar  was  the  daughter  of  the 
younger  brother  of  the  Sultan,  to  whom  he  had  been 
tenderly  attached.  He  had  died  while  the  Princess 
was  very  young;  and  the  Sultan  had  taken  upon  him- 
self the  education  of  his  niece,  and  had  brought  her  up 
in  the  palace  with  his  three  sons,  where  her  singular 
beauty,  and  goodness  and  lively  wit,  distinguished  her 
among  all  the  princesses  of  her  time. 

When  she  arrived  at  a  proper  age,  the  Sultan  pro- 
posed to  marry  her  to  some  neighbouring  prince.  He 
was  thinking  seriously  on  the  subject,  when  he  per- 
ceived that  the  three  Princes,  his  sons,  were  violently 
in  love  with  her.  This  gave  him  much  concern,  since 

208 


The    Princess   Nouronnihar    209 

he  foresaw  that  the  two  youngest  would  not  consent 
to  yield  her  up  to  their  eldest  brother.  He  talked  to 
each  apart,  endeavouring  to  persuade  him  to  desist 
from  his  pretensions,  and  to  suffer  his  cousin,  the 
Princess  Nouronnihar,  to  marry  a  foreign  prince.  But 
as  each  refused  to  do  so,  the  Sultan  called  the  three 
Princes  together  before  his  throne,  and  addressed  them 
thus: 

"O  my  sons,  since  I  have  not  been  able  to  dissuade 
you  from  aspiring  to  marry  the  Princess  Nouronnihar, 
I  have  determined  on  a  plan  that  will  preserve  harmony 
among  you.  Do  ye  travel  separately  into  different 
countries  where  ye  may  not  meet  one  another.  As  ye 
know,  I  am  very  curious,  and  delight  in  rarities  of  all 
kinds,  therefore  I  promise  the  Princess  in  marriage  to 
that  one  of  you  who  shall  bring  me  the  most  extraor- 
dinary wonder.  I  will  give  you  each  a  sum  of  money 
Suited  to  your  rank  and  sufficient  for  the  purchase  of 
the  rarities  you  seek.  This  money  must  not  be  ex- 
pended in  extravagant  display,  or  in  hiring  attendants, 
or  in  buying  costly  garments;  but  ye  must  go  disguised 
as  merchants  on  your  travels." 

Upon  hearing  these  words,  the  three  Princes  con- 
sented to  the  proposal  of  the  Sultan,  their  father,  each 
flattering  himself  that  Destiny  would  prove  favourable, 
and  give  him  the  Princess  Nouronnihar.  The  Sultan 
bestowed  upon  them  the  money  he  had  promised,  and 
made  things  ready  for  their  departure.  The  Princes 
passed  the  night  in  sleep,  and  when  morning  dawned 
went  out  together  from  the  city,  each  dressed  in  the 
garb  of  a  merchant,  and  accompanied  by  a  trusty 
attendant  habited  as  a  slave,  all  well  mounted  and 
equipped.  They  journeyed  on  that  day,  and  when 


210       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

night  overtook  them,  lodged  at  a  Khan,  where  the 
way  divided  into  three  roads.  When  morning  came, 
they  agreed  each  to  follow  one  of  the  roads,  and  to 
travel  a  year,  after  which  they  would  return  to  the 
Khan  and  meet  together  again,  and  carry  their  rarities 
to  the  Sultan  their  father. 

Prince  Houssain  the  eldest,  who  had  heard  of  the 
power  and  extent  and  riches  and  splendour  of  the 
Kingdom  of  Bisnagar,  bent  his  course  thither,  and, 
after  journeying  through  desert  wastes  and  over  barren 
mountains,  and  fertile  lands,  for  the  space  of  three 
months,  arrived  at  the  capital  city  of  that  country. 
He  took  lodgings  at  a  Khan,  and  immediately  inquired 
where  he  might  find  the  market-quarter.  On  this 
being  pointed  out  to  him,  he  hastened  thither,  and  found 
it  to  be  large  and  divided  into  several  streets,  all 
vaulted  and  shaded  from  the  sun.  The  shops  were  alike 
in  shape  and  size,  and  all  the  merchants  who  dealt  in 
the  same  sort  of  goods  lived  on  one  street. 

As  Prince  Houssain  walked  through  the  place,  he 
beheld  shops  stocked  with  many  kinds  of  merchandise, 
such  as  the  finest  linens  from  India,  coloured  and  em- 
broidered to  represent  men,  and  landscapes,  and  trees, 
and  flowers.  He  wondered  also  at  the  rich  silks  and 
brocades  from  Persia,  and  the  beauty  and  delicacy  of 
the  porcelain  from  Japan  and  China.  But  when  he 
came  to  the  street  of  the  goldsmiths,  he  was  overcome 
by  the  sight  of  prodigious  quantities  of  wrought  gold 
and  silver,  and  his  eyes  were  dazzled  by  the  lustre 
of  the  pearls,  and  rubies,  and  emeralds,  and  other 
precious  stones  exposed  for  sale.  Prince  Houssain 
also  beheld  numerous  flower-sellers  who  thronged  the 
streets;  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  were  great  lovers 


The   Princess   Nouronnihar    211 

of  flowers  and  carried  nosegays  in  their  hands,  and  the 
merchants  kept  potted  plants  and  bouquets  in  their 
shops,  so  that  the  air  was  deliciously  perfumed. 

After  Prince  Houssain  had  gone  through  the  streets, 
he  was  much  fatigued,  and,  entering  a  shop,  sat  down 
to  rest.  He  had  not  been  seated  long,  when  he  per- 
ceived a  man  passing  by  with  a  piece  of  carpet  under 
his  arm,  and  heard  him  cry  out:  "O  ye  buyers,  I  have 
here  for  sale  a  piece  of  carpet,  and  its  price  is  thirty 
purses  of  gold!"  The  Prince  surprised  at  this  exorbi- 
tant price  asked  for  so  small  a  piece  of  carpet,  called 
the  crier  to  him  and  said:  "Show  me  thy  goods." 
Thereupon  the  man  laid  the  carpet  before  him,  and 
the  Prince  wondered  at  the  smallness  of  its  size,  and 
the  meanness  of  its  material.  When  he  had  examined 
it  well,  he  said:  "O  crier,  why  dost  thou  ask  so  high  a 
price  for  a  thing  so  indifferent  in  appearance?"  "O 
my  master,"  answered  the  crier,  "this  price  seems  ex- 
travagant to  thee,  but  thy  amazement  will  be  greater 
when  I  tell  thee  that  I  have  orders  to  raise  it  to  forty 
purses,  and  not  to  part  with  it  under  that  price." 

"And  why  such  a  great  price?"  asked  Prince  Hous- 
sain. "Verily  there  must  be  some  extraordinary  virtue 
in  it,  of  which  I  know  nothing."  "Thou  art  right," 
answered  the  crier.  "  Know  then  that  whosoever  sitteth 
upon  this  carpet,  will  be  transported  instantly  whither- 
soever he  may  desire  to  be."  On  hearing  this  the  Prince 
thought  to  himself:  "Surely  I  can  carry  the  Sultan  my 
father  no  greater  rarity!"  and  he  said  to  the  crier: 
"If  the  carpet  hath  the  virtue  thou  dost  attribute  to  it, 
I  shall  not  think  forty  purses  of  gold  too  much  to  pay 
for  such  a  treasure,  but  shall  make  thee  a  present  be- 
sides." "O  my  master,"  replied  the  crier,  "I  have  told 


212       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

thee  the  truth,  and  it  will  be  an  easy  matter  to  convince 
thee  of  it,  if  I  convey  thee  to  the  Khan  where  thou 
lodgest.  With  the  permission  of  the  master  of  this 
shop  we  will  go  into  his  warehouse,  where  I  will  spread 
the  carpet;  and,  when  we  have  both  sat  down  upon  it, 
thou  mayest  wish  us  in  thy  apartment  at  the  Khan. 
If  we  are  not  instantly  transported  thither,  then  it 
shall  be  no  bargain,  and  thou  shalt  be  free.  As  for  thy 
gift  I  shall  receive  it  as  a  favour  and  feel  grateful  to 
thee  for  thy  generosity." 

The  Prince  accepted  the  condition,  and,  having  ob- 
tained permission  from  the  owner  of  the  shop,  they 
went  into  the  warehouse,  where  they  both  sat  down 
upon  the  carpet.  As  soon  as  the  Prince  had  formed  a 
wish  to  be  transported  to  his  apartment  in  the  Khan, 
he  found  himself  and  the  crier  there.  As  he  desired 
no  more  convincing  proof  of  the  wonderful  virtue  of  the 
carpet,  he  counted  to  the  crier  forty  purses  of  gold, 
and  gave  him  twenty  pieces  of  gold  for  himself,  after 
which  the  man  thanked  him  and  departed.  In  this 
wise  Prince  Houssain  became  the  possessor  of  the  magic 
carpet,  and  was  overjoyed  at  finding  so  great  a  rarity, 
which  he  felt  sure  would  gain  for  him  the  hand  of  the 
Princess  Nouronnihar.  In  short  he  thought  it  impos- 
sible for  his  younger  brothers  to  meet  with  anything 
that  could  compare  with  the  wonderful  carpet. 

Since  considerable  time  yet  remained  before  the 
expiration  of  the  year  agreed  upon  by  the  three  Princes 
for  the  duration  of  their  travels,  Prince  Houssain  de- 
termined to  spend  the  remainder  of  the  period  in  ob- 
serving the  strange  sights  of  the  Kingdom  of  Bisna- 
gar.  He  thereupon  proceeded  to  inform  himself  of  its 
strength,  and  its  laws,  and  its  customs,  and  its  religion. 


The    Princess   Nouronnihar    213 

He  visited  its  temples  and  gardens,  and  presented 
himself  at  the  court  of  the  ruler  of  the  city.  Thus  the 
Prince  diverted  himself  agreeably  until  the  last  day  of 
the  year  whereon  he  and  his  brothers  had  appointed 
to  meet. 

He  then  paid  the  master  of  the  Khan  what  he  owed 
him,  and  going  into  his  apartment,  shut  the  door  and 
locked  it,  and  spreading  his  carpet,  he  and  his  officer 
sat  down  upon  it.  As  soon  as  Prince  Houssain  formed 
his  wish  he  was  transported  to  the  Khan  at  which  he 
and  his  brothers  were  to  meet,  and  where  he  remained 
until  their  arrival.  And  such  was  the  adventure  of 
Prince  Houssain. 

Now,  as  to  Prince  Ali,  the  second  brother,  he  trav- 
elled into  Persia,  and  three  days  after  he  had  parted 
from  his  brothers,  joined  a  caravan.  He  proceeded  to 
journey  on  for  the  period  of  four  months,  when  he 
arrived  at  Sheerauz,  which  was  then  the  capital  of  the 
empire  of  Persia,  and  having  on  the  way  made  friends 
with  some  merchants,  he  lodged  at  the  same  Khan 
with  them. 

The  next  morning,  while  the  merchants  opened  their 
bales  of  goods,  Prince  Ali  dressed  himself,  and  went 
to  walk  in  that  quarter  of  the  city  where  were  sold  pre- 
cious stones,  gold,  silver,  brocades,  fine  linens,  and  other 
costly  articles.  Prince  Ali  as  he  looked  about  him  was 
overcome  by  the  prodigious  quantities  of  the  most  pre- 
cious merchandise  exposed  to  view.  Among  the  criers 
who  passed  backward  and  forward  with  all  sorts  of 
goods,  he  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  see  a  man  who 
held  in  his  hand  an  ivory  tube  about  a  foot  in  length 
and  an  inch  thick,  which  he  cried  at  forty  purses.  At 
first  Prince  Ali  thought  that  the  crier  was  mad,  but  on 


214       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

being  informed  by  a  merchant  that  the  man  was  one 
of  the  most  sensible  criers  in  the  market-streets,  he 
called  to  him,  saying:  "O  crier,  what  meanest  thou  by 
offering  that  ivory  tube  at  forty  purses  of  gold?"  He 
replied:  "O  my  master,  this  tube  is  furnished  with  a 
glass  at  each  end,  and  by  looking  through  one  end 
thou  wilt  see  whatever  object  thou  wishest  to  behold." 
"I  am  ready,"  said  Prince  Ali,  "to  pay  thee  the  price 
thou  askest  if  thou  prove  the  truth  of  thy  state- 
ment." 

Thereupon  the  crier  presented  him  with  the  tube, 
and  the  Prince  looked  through  it,  wishing  at  the  same 
time  to  see  the  Sultan  his  father.  Immediately  he  be- 
held him  seated  upon  his  throne  in  the  midst  of  his 
court.  Next  the  Prince  wished  to  see  the  Princess 
Nouronnihar,  and  instantly  he  beheld  her  laughing, 
surrounded  by  her  women. 

Prince  Ali  wanted  no  other  proof  to  persuade  him 
that  this  tube  was  the  most  valuable  article,  not  only 
in  the  city  of  Sheerauz,  but  in  all  the  world.  He  said 
to  the  crier:  "Verily  this  glass  is  wonderful,  so  come 
thou  with  me  and  I  will  pay  thee  the  forty  purses." 
He  took  the  crier  to  the  Khan  where  he  lodged,  and 
giving  him  the  money  received  the  tube.  Prince  Ali 
was  overjoyed  at  this  purchase,  and  assured  himself 
that  his  brothers  would  not  be  able  to  meet  with  any- 
thing so  rare  and  wonderful,  and  that  the  Princess  Nou- 
ronnihar must  be  the  recompense  for  all  his  fatigue 
and  travel. 

After  this  the  Prince  spent  some  time  visiting  the 
court  of  Persia,  and  seeing  the  strange  sights  of  the 
country.  He  then  joined  a  caravan  and  took  his  de- 
parture, and  arrived  happily  without  accident  or  trou- 


The   Princess   Nouronnihar    215 

ble  at  the  place  of  meeting  where  he  found  Prince  Hous- 
sain.  They  both  awaited  there  the  arrival  of  Prince 
Ahmed.  And  thus  it  happened  to  Prince  Ali. 

Now,  as  to  Prince  Ahmed,  the  youngest  of  the 
brothers,  he  took  the  road  to  Samarcand,  and  the  day 
after  his  arrival  in  that  city,  set  out  for  the  market- 
streets,  as  his  brothers  had  done.  He  had  not  walked 
long  before  he  heard  a  crier,  who  had  an  artificial 
apple  in  his  hand,  proclaim  that  he  would  sell  the  apple 
at  five-and-thirty  purses.  He  stopped  the  crier  and 
said  to  him:  "Let  me  see  that  apple,  and  tell  me  what 
virtue  or  extraordinary  property  it  possesseth  to  be 
valued  at  so  high  a  price."  "O  my  master,"  replied 
the  crier,  giving  the  apple  into  his  hand,  "if  thou  look- 
est  at  the  outside  of  this  it  is  not  remarkable,  but  if 
thou  dost  consider  its  wonderful  properties  thou  wilt 
say  it  is  invaluable.  Know  that  it  cureth  every  sick 
person  of  mortal  disease;  for  even  if  he  be  dying,  it 
will  restore  him  immediately  to  perfect  health;  and 
this  merely  by  his  smelling  of  it." 

"If  one  may  believe  thee,"  replied  Prince  Ahmed, 
"the  virtues  of  this  apple  are  wonderful  indeed,  and 
it  is  invaluable.  But  how  wilt  thou  prove  to  me  the 
truth  of  thy  statement?  " 

Before  the  crier  could  answer  a  merchant  standing 
near  stepped  forward  and  said  that  he  had  a  friend 
dangerously  ill,  whose  life  was  despaired  of,  and  that 
this  offered  an  opportunity  to  prove  the  virtue  of  the 
apple.  Upon  hearing  this  Prince  Ahmed  said  to  the 
crier:  "I  will  give  thee  forty  purses  of  gold  for  the 
apple,  if  the  sick  person  be  cured  by  smelling  of  it." 
"Come,  O  my  master,"  answered  the  crier,  "let  us  go 
and  make  the  experiment,  and  the  apple  shall  be  thine." 


216       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

They  went  together  to  the  house  of  the  sick  man,  who 
on  smelling  of  the  fruit,  instantly  recovered  and  arose 
from  his  couch.  The  Prince,  overjoyed,  counted  out  to 
the  crier  the  forty  purses,  and  received  the  apple. 

He  then  waited  with  the  greatest  impatience  for  the 
next  caravan  for  India.  In  the  meantime  he  saw  all 
that  was  curious  in  Samarcand  and  in  the  country 
surrounding  the  city,  and  visited  the  Valley  of  Sogd, 
which  is  called  by  the  Arabians  one  of  the  four  Paradises 
of  the  world,  because  of  the  beauty  of  its  fields,  and  gar- 
dens, and  palaces,  and  for  the  abundance  of  its  delicious 
fruits  of  all  sorts.  After  this  Ahmed  joined  himself  to 
the  first  caravan  that  set  forth  for  India,  and,  notwith- 
standing the  long  journey,  arrived  in  perfect  health  at 
the  Khan  where  Prince  Houssain  and  Prince  Ali  awaited 
him. 

The  brothers  then  displayed  their  rarities  to  one 
another,  and  explained  their  wonderful  properties, 
and  the  two  elder  Princes  entered  into  a  dispute  as  to 
the  relative  merits  of  the  magic  carpet  and  the  ivory 
tube,  each  claiming  that  his  was  the  most  extraordi- 
nary rarity.  At  this  point  Prince  Houssain  took  the 
ivory  tube  from  the  hand  of  Prince  Ali,  and  put  the 
end  to  his  eye,  when  his  brothers  saw  his  expression 
change  to  alarm  and  affliction.  Prince  Houssain  did 
not  give  them  time  to  ask  what  was  the  matter,  but 
cried  out:  "Alas!  Alas!  O  my  brothers!  to  what  pur- 
pose have  we  undertaken  such  long  fatiguing  journeys 
with  the  hopes  of  being  recompensed  by  the  possession 
of  the  beautiful  Nouronnihar,  when  in  a  few  moments 
the  lovely  Princess  will  breathe  her  last!  I  see  her  on  ij 
her  bed,  surrounded  by  her  women  and  eunuchs,  who 
are  all  in  tears,  and  who  seem  to  expect  her  death.. 


The    Princess   Nouronnihar    217 

Take  the  tube  and  behold  for  yourself  the  miserable 
state  she  is  in,  and  mingle  your  tears  with  mine!" 

Prince  Ali  took  the  tube  out  of  Houssain's  hand,  and 
after  he  had  seen  the  sad  sight,  presented  it  to  Ahmed, 
who  took  it  and  also  beheld  the  melancholy  spectacle 
which  so  much  concerned  them  all.  When  Prince 
Ahmed  took  the  tube  out  of  Ali's  hand,  and  saw 
that  the  Princess  Nouronnihar's  end  was  so  near,  he 
addressed  himself  to  his  two  brothers,  as  follows:  "The 
Princess  who  is  equally  the  object  of  our  vows,  is  at 
death's  door;  but  provided  we  make  haste  and  lose  no 
time,  we  may  preserve  her  life."  He  then  took  the 
artificial  apple  out  of  his  bosom,  and  said:  "With  this 
I  may  yet  save  her."  "If  that  be  so,"  replied  Prince 
Houssain,  "we  will  transport  ourselves  immediately 
into  her  apartment  by  means  of  my  carpet,  Come, 
lose  no  time,  sit  down;  it  is  large  enough  to  hold  us  all. 
But  first  let  me  give  orders  to  our  servants  to  set  out 
immediately  and  join  us  at  the  palace." 

As  soon  as  the  orders  were  given,  the  three  Princes 
placed  themselves  upon  the  carpet,  and,  as  their  in- 
terest was  the  same,  they  all  framed  the  same  wish, 
and  were  transported  instantly  into  the  apartment  of 
the  Princess  Nouronnihar.  At  the  sudden  sight  of  the 
three  Princes,  the  eunuchs  were  about  to  draw  their 
swords  and  fall  upon  them,  but  happily  perceived  in 
time  that  they  were  the  sons  of  the  Sultan. 

Prince  Ahmed  no  sooner  saw  himself  in  Nouron- 
nihar's  apartment,  than  he  rose  from  the  carpet  and 
hastening  to  the  bedside  put  the  apple  to  her  nose. 
The  Princess  immediately  opened  her  eyes,  and  rising 
from  her  bed  asked  to  be  dressed.  The  three  Princes 
threw  themselves  at  her  feet,  congratulating  her  upon 


2i8       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

her  recovery,  and  then  went  to  present  themselves 
before  the  throne  of  the  Sultan  their  father.  They 
found  that  he  had  already  been  informed  of  their  sud- 
den arrival  and  of  the  wonderful  recovery  of  the  Princess 
his  niece  whom  he  loved  as  if  she  were  his  daughter. 
He  received  and  embraced  them  with  the  greatest  joy, 
and  immediately  each  Prince  presented  the  rarity 
which  he  had  brought;  Prince  Houssain,  his  carpet; 
Prince  Ali,  his  ivory  tube;  and  Prince  Ahmed,  his 
artificial  apple.  After  each  had  described  the  virtues 
of  his  wonder  he  placed  it  in  the  Sultan's  hands,  leav- 
ing him  to  decide  to  which  one  of  them  he  would  give 
the  Princess  Nouronnihar,  according  to  his  promise. 

The  Sultan  of  India,  having  listened  to  all  the  Princes 
had  to  say  in  favour  of  their  rarities,  remained  silent 
for  some  time,  then  said:  "O  my  sons,  if  I  could  do  it 
with  justice,  I  would  declare  for  one  of  you;  but  con- 
sider whether  I  can  do  so.  It  is  true,  Ahmed,  that  the 
Princess  my  niece  was  restored  to  health  by  the  means 
of  thine  artificial  apple,  but  let  me  ask  thee  whether 
thou  couldst  have  been  serviceable  to  her  if  thou  hadst 
not  known  by  Ali's  tube  the  danger  in  which  she  was, 
and  if  Houssain's  carpet  had  not  brought  thee  to  her, 
in  time?  Thy  tube,  Ali,  informed  thee  and  thy  brothers 
that  ye  were  likely  to  lose  the  Princess,  but  thou  must 
grant  that  the  knowledge  of  her  illness  would  have  been 
of  no  service  without  the  artificial  apple  and  the  carpet. 
And  as  for  thee,  Houssain,  the  Princess  would  be  un- 
grateful if  she  did  not  appreciate  the  value  of  thy 
carpet,  which  was  so  necessary  a  means  toward  effect- 
ing her  cure;  but  consider  whether  it  would  have  been 
of  any  use,  if  thou  hadst  not  been  made  acquainted 
with  her  illness  by  Ali's  tube,  or  if  Ahmed  had  not 


The   Princess   Nouronnihar    219 

applied  his  artificial  apple.  Therefore,  as  neither  the 
carpet,  nor  the  ivory  tube,  nor  the  apple  was  alone  the 
cause  of  her  cure,  I  cannot  grant  the  Princess  to  any 
one  of  you;  and  the  only  fruit  ye  have  reaped  from  your 
travels  is  the  glory  of  having  equally  contributed  to 
restore  her  to  health. 

"Since  this  is  the  case,"  continued  the  Sultan,  "ye 
see  that  I  must  devise  other  means  to  determine  which 
shall  have  the  Princess  in  marriage.  I  will  do  so  im- 
mediately. Go  and  procure  each  of  you  a  bow  and 
arrow,  and  repair  to  the  plain  where  the  horses  are 
exercised.  I  will  soon  join  you  there,  and  will  give 
the  Princess  Nouronnihar  to  him  who  shooteth  the 
furthest." 

The  three  Princes  could  offer  no  objections  to  the 
decision  of  the  Sultan.  As  soon  as  they  were  dismissed 
from  his  presence,  each  provided  himself  with  a  bow 
and  arrow,  which  he  delivered  to  one  of  his  officers; 
after  which  the  three  Princes  went  to  the  plain  ap- 
pointed, followed  by  a  great  concourse  of  people. 

The  Sultan  did  not  make  them  wait  long  for  him. 
As  soon  as  he  arrived,  Prince  Houssain,  as  the  eldest, 
took  his  bow  and  arrow,  and  shot  first.  Prince  All 
shot  next,  and  much  beyond  him.  Prince  Ahmed  shot 
last  of  all,  but  it  so  happened  that  nobody  could  see 
where  his  arrow  fell,  and  notwithstanding  all  his  search 
it  was  not  found.  The  Sultan,  therefore,  determined 
in  favour  of  Prince  Ali,  and  gave  orders  to  call  the 
Cadis  and  witnesses  so  that  the  contract  of  marriage 
of  Prince  Ali  to  the  Princess  Nouronnihar  might  be 
performed.  This  was  immediately  done,  and  the  city 
decorated,  and  the  marriage  celebrated  with  great 
magnificence.  * 


22O       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 


THE  FAIRY  PALACE 

RINCE  Houssain  would  not  honour  the  feast 
with  his  presence.  But  as  his  grief  and  dis- 
appointment were  insupportable  he  left  the 
court,  and  renounced  all  right  of  succession 
to  the  throne  of  his  father.  Then  placing  him- 
self under  the  instruction  of  a  famous  sheikh 
he  became  a  dervish  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
solitude. 

Prince  Ahmed,  urged  by  the  same  motive,  did  not 
attend  the  marriage  feast  of  Prince  Ali  and  the  Prin- 
cess Nouronnihar.  But  as  he  could  not  imagine  what 
had  become  of  his  arrow,  he  resolved  to  search  for  it. 
With  this  intent  he  went  to  the  place  where  Prince 
Houssain's  and  Prince  Ali's  were  gathered  up,  and  pro- 
ceeded straight  forward  from  thence,  looking  carefully 
on  both  sides  as  he  advanced.  He  went  so  far  that  at 
last  he  began  to  think  his  labour  was  in  vain,  yet  he 
could  not  help  proceeding  until  he  came  to  some  craggy 
rocks,  which  completely  obstructed  his  path. 

As  he  approached  them,  he  perceived  an  arrow  on 
the  ground.  He  took  it  up,  and  to  his  great  astonish- 
ment found  it  to  be  the  one  he  had  shot.  "Verily," 
said  he  to  himself,  "neither  I  nor  any  man  living,  could 
shoot  an  arrow  so  far.  And  as  it  was  lying  flat,  not 
sticking  in  the  ground,  it  must  have  rebounded  from 
this  rock!  Verily  there  must  be  some  mystery  in  this. 
Perhaps  Destiny,  wishing  to  make  amends  for  depriving 
me  of  the  Princess  Nouronnihar,  hath  reserved  a  greater 
blessing  for  me." 


The   Fairy   Palace  221 

As  the  rocks  were  full  of  sharp  points  and  projec- 
tions, the  Prince  searched  until  he  found  a  cave.  This 
he  entered,  and  perceived  an  iron  door,  which  seemed 
to  have  no  lock.  He  feared  it  was  fastened,  but,  push- 
ing against  it,  it  opened,  and  he  beheld  a  long  and  dark 
passage,  which  descended  gradually.  Holding  the 
arrow  in  his  hand  he  walked  down  the  passage.  For  a 
while  he  could  see  nothing  because  of  the  darkness, 
but  presently  he  perceived  a  light  in  the  distance.  He 
hastened  his  footsteps  and  emerging  from  the  passage, 
was  surprised  to  find  himself  in  a  spacious  square, 
where  he  beheld  a  magnificent  palace,  the  admirable 
structure  of  which  he  had  not  time  to  examine,  for  at 
the  same  moment  a  damsel  of  majestic  air,  and  of  great 
beauty,  adorned  with  rich  garments  and  jewels,  ad- 
vanced toward  him.  She  was  attended  by  a  troop  of 
damsels,  also  magnificently  dressed. 

As  soon  as  Ahmed  perceived  her,  he  hastened  to 
pay  his  respects,  but  she,  addressing  him  first,  said: 
"Come  near,  O  Prince  Ahmed,  thou  art  welcome." 
Surprised  to  hear  himself  named  in  a  palace  he  had 
never  heard  of,  though  so  nigh  to  his  father's  capital, 
Prince  Ahmed  returned  the  damsel's  salutation  by 
throwing  himself  at  her  feet  and  exclaiming:  "O  my 
mistress,  I  return  thee  a  thousand  thanks  for  welcom- 
ing me  to  this  place.  If  I  have  been  guilty  of  rudeness 
in  presuming  to  enter  here,  pardon  my  fault.  And 
wilt  thou  not  tell  me  how  thou  knowest  my  name,  and 
why  thou  who  livest  in  the  same  neighbourhood  with 
myself  art  unknown  to  me?  "  " O  my  Prince,"  answered 
the  damsel,  "enter  thou  with  me  into  yonder  hall, 
and  there  will  I  gratify  thy  request." 

After  these  words  she  led  Prince  Ahmed  into  the 


222       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

hall,  whose  dome  was  adorned  with  gold  and  azure. 
It  was  furnished  with  carpets  and  couches  of  inesti- 
mable richness.  So  magnificent  was  the  hall  that  the 
Prince  could  not  forbear  expressing  his  admiration,  but 
exclaimed  that  he  had  never  beheld  its  equal. 

"I  can  assure  thee,"  answered  the  damsel,  "that 
this  is  but  a  small  part  of  my  palace,  as  thou  wilt  judge 
when  thou  hast  seen  all  the  apartments."  She  then 
seated  herself  upon  a  couch  of  alabaster  adorned  with 
pure  gold,  and  placed  the  Prince  at  her  side.  "Thou 
art  surprised,"  she  continued,  "that  I  know  thee,  and 
am  not  known  by  thee.  I  am  the  Fairy  Periebanou, 
the  daughter  of  one  of  the  most  powerful  Kings  of 
the  Genii.  Therefore  wonder  not  that  I  know  thee, 
and  the  Sultan  thy  father,  and  the  Princes  thy 
brothers,  and  the  Princess  Nouronnihar.  I  am  no 
stranger  to  your  loves  and  adventures;  since  it  was  I 
myself  who  sold  the  artificial  apple  which  thou  bought- 
est  at  Samarcand;  the  carpet  which  Prince  Houssain 
purchased  at  Bisnagar;  and  the  tube  which  Prince  Ali 
procured  at  Sheerauz.  This  is  sufficient  to  let  thee 
know  that  I  am  not  unacquainted  with  everything 
that  concerneth  thee.  I  have  to  add  that  thou  didst 
seem  to  me  worthy  of  a  more  happy  fate  than  the  posses- 
sion of  Nouronnihar,  and  in  order  that  thou  mightest 
attain  to  it,  I  was  present  when  thou  drewest  thine 
arrow,  and  foreseeing  that  it  would  not  go  beyond 
Prince  Houssain's,  I  seized  it  in  the  air,  and  gave  it  the 
necessary  force  that  carried  it  afar,  and  caused  it  to 
strike  against  the  rocks  near  which  thou  didst  find  it. 
It  is  now  in  thy  power  to  avail  thyself  of  this  favour- 
able opportunity  which  presenteth  itself  to  make  thee 
happy." 


"I  AM  THE  FAIRY  PERIEBANOU,  THE  DAUGHTER  OF  ONE  OF  THE  MOST 
POWERFUL  KINGS  OF  THE  GENII" 


The   Fairy   Palace  223 

As  the  Fairy  Periebanou  spoke,  she  looked  tenderly 
at  the  Prince,  and  then  remained  silent  with  downcast 
eyes  and  a  modest  blush  upon  her  cheek.  As  for 
Prince  Ahmed  he  reflected  that  the  Princess  Nouron- 
nihar  could  never  be  his,  and  he  saw  that  the  Fairy 
excelled  her  infinitely  in  beauty  and  accomplishments. 
He  blessed  the  moment  in  which  he  had  thought  of  seek- 
ing the  arrow,  and  his  heart  was  filled  with  love  for  the 
Fairy.  "Should  I,"  replied  he,  "all  my  life  have  the 
happiness  of  being  thy  slave,  I  would  think  myself 
the  most  fortunate  of  men.  And  if  thou  wilt  permit  it, 
I  will  devote  my  life  to  thee,  and  live  henceforth  at  thy 
court."  "O  my  Prince,"  answered  the  Fairy,  "it  is 
not  as  a  slave  that  I  would  admit  thee  to  my  court,  but 
as  my  husband.  Be  not  surprised  that  I  should  speak 
thus  openly  to  thee,  for  the  same  customs  are  not  ob- 
served among  us  Fairies  as  with  human-kind,  and  we 
consider  that  we  confer  an  obligation  by  our  frank- 


ness." 


Ahmed  made  no  answer  to  this  declaration,  but  was 
so  filled  with  gratitude  that  he  fell  upon  his  knees  be- 
fore the  Fairy  and  kissed  her  hand  a  thousand  times. 
"Well,  Prince  Ahmed,"  said  she,  "wilt  thou  pledge 
thy  faith  to  me,  as  I  do  mine  to  thee?"  "Yes,  O  my 
mistress,"  replied  the  Prince,  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy, 
"what  can  I  do  more  fortunate  for  myself,  or  with 
greater  pleasure?"  "Then,"  answered  the  Fairy, 
"thou  art  my  husband,  and  I  am  thy  wife.  Our  Fairy 
marriages  are  contracted  with  no  other  ceremony,  and 
yet  are  more  firm  and  indissoluble  than  those  among 
men.  But  as  I  suppose,"  pursued  she,  "that  thou  hast 
eaten  nothing  to-day,  a  slight  repast  shall  be  served 
while  preparations  are  being  made  for  our  marriage 


224       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

feast  which  will  be  held  this  evening.     Meanwhile  I  will 
show  thee  the  apartments  of  the  palace." 

Scarcely  had  the  Fairy  spoken  thus  when  some  of  her 
damsels  entered  the  hall,  and  placed  before  Prince 
Ahmed  a  repast  consisting  of  delicious  viands  and  re- 
freshing drinks.  When  he  had  finished  eating,  the 
Fairy  led  him  through  the  apartments  where  he  saw 
diamonds,  and  rubies,  and  emeralds,  and  all  sorts  of 
jewels  mixed  with  pearls,  and  agate,  and  jasper,  and 
porphyry,  and  all  kinds  of  the  most  precious  marbles. 
On  every  side  the  Prince  beheld  a  profusion  of  rich 
furniture  and  carpets,  the  like  of  which  he  had  never 
seen  before.  "O  my  Prince,"  said  the  Fairy,  "if  thoi 
dost  admire  my  humble  abode  so  much,  what  wouldsl 
thou  say  to  the  palaces  of  the  Kings  of  the  Genii, 
which  are  much  more  beautiful,  spacious,  and  magnif- 
icent. I  could  also  show  thee  my  garden,  but  we  will 
leave  that  till  another  day.  Night  draws  near  and  i1 
is  time  to  attend  the  marriage  feast." 

The  Fairy  then  led  the  Prince  into  the  banquet  hall, 
which  was  illuminated  by  innumerable  wax  candles 
perfumed  with  amber.  The  feast  was  set  forth  in 
dishes  of  gold  finely  wrought.  A  number  of  beautiful 
damsels,  richly  dressed,  and  whose  voices  were  ravish- 
ing, began  a  concert,  accompanied  by  the  most  hai 
monious  instruments.  When  they  were  seated  the 
Fairy  took  care  to  help  Prince  Ahmed  to  the  most  de- 
licious meats,  which  she  named  as  she  invited  him  to 
eat,  and  which  the  Prince  had  never  heard  of  before. 
Then  refreshing  drinks,  and  a  dessert  consisting  ol 
sweetmeats  and  fruits,  were  served. 

After  the   dessert,   the  Fairy  Periebanou   and  the 
Prince  arose  and  sat  upon  a  couch  covered  with 


The   Fairy    Palace  225 

curiously  embroidered  with  large  flowers.  A  number 
of  Genii  and  Fairies  danced  before  them  to  the  sound 
of  the  sweetest  music,  and  thus  they  passed  the  night 
in  joy  and  happiness.  The  marriage  feast  was  re- 
newed the  next  day;  or  rather,  every  day  follow- 
ing the  celebration  was  a  continuous  feast,  that  the 
'Fairy  Periebanou  made  delightful  by  ordering  new 
delicacies,  new  concerts,  new  dances,  and  new  diversions 
of  all  sorts,  so  that  Prince  Ahmed  if  he  had  lived  a 
thousand  years  among  men,  could  not  have  experienced 
equal  joy. 

At  the  end  of  six  months,  the  Prince,  who  always 
loved  and  honoured  the  Sultan  his  father,  felt  a  great 
desire  to  know  how  he  was.  He  mentioned  his  wish  to 
the  Fairy,  and  requested  that  she  would  give  him 
permission  to  visit  the  Sultan.  This  request  alarmed 
the  Fairy  and  made  her  fear  that  it  was  an  excuse  to 
leave  her.  "O  my  Prince,"  said  she,  "what  have  I 
done  that  thou  shouldst  ask  to  desert  me  thus?  Is  it 
possible  that  thou  hast  forgotten  thy  pledge  to  me? 
Or  hast  thou  ceased  to  love  me?  Is  not  my  affection 
sufficient?" 

"O  my  Queen,"  answered  the  Prince,  "I  am  per- 
fectly convinced  of  thy  love,  and  should  be  unworthy  of 
it,  if  I  did  not  show  my  gratitude.  If  thou  art  offended 
by  my  asking  this  permission,  I  entreat  thee  to  forgive 
me.  I  did  not  make  the  request  with  any  intention 
of  displeasing  thee,  but  because  I  wished  to  relieve  the 
anxiety  of  my  father,  who  must  be  overwhelmed  by 
grief  at  my  long  absence.  But  since  thou  dost  not 
consent  that  I  should  go  and  comfort  him,  I  will  deny 
myself  the  pleasure,  as  there  is  nothing  to  which  I 
would  not  submit  to  please  thee."  The  Fairy,  on  hear- 


226       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

ing  these  words,  expressed  her  satisfaction,  and  she 
and  Prince  Ahmed  continued  to  live  together  in  joy 
and  happiness. 


THE  MAGIC  PAVILION,  THE  FOUNTAIN 
OF  LIONS,  AND  SCHAIBAR  THE  DWARF 

4>   J^S  the  Prince  had  supposed,  the  Sultan  of  India, 

Cm  II  m  ^e  m^st  °^  tne  reJ°icings  at  the  marriage 

Vvl   of  Prince  Ali  and  the  Princess  Nouronnihar, 

+  1   I   was  deeply  afflicted  at  the  absence  of  the  other 

two  Princes  his  sons.     It  was  not  long  before 

|  \  he  was  informed  of  the  resolution  that  Houssain 
had  taken  to  forsake  the  world,  and  of  the  place  which 
he  had  chosen  for  his  retreat.  As  he  could  not  disap- 
prove of  the  choice  of  his  eldest  son,  he  determined  to 
support  his  absence  with  patience. 

He  made  the  most  diligent  search  for  Prince  Ahmed, 
and  despatched  couriers  to  all  the  provinces  of  his 
empire,  with  orders  to  find  him  and  oblige  him  to  re- 
turn to  the  Sultan's  court,  but  all  in  vain.  He  then 
called  his  Grand  Vizier  and  said  to  him:  "Thou  know- 
est  that  I  have  always  loved  Ahmed  more  than  my 
other  sons.  My  grief  at  his  loss  is  so  heavy  that  I 
shall  sink  under  it  if  thou  hast  not  compassion  upon  me. 
If  thou  hast  any  regard  for  the  preservation  of  my  life, 
I  conjure  thee  to  assist  and  advise  me." 

The  Grand  Vizier,  who  was  attached  to  the  Sultan, 
and  was  desirous  of  giving  him  ease,  considered  the 
matter  and  then  recollected  a  sorceress  of  whom  he  had 
heard  wonders,  and  proposed  to  send  for  and  consult 
her.  The  Sultan  consented,  and  the  Grand  Vizier, 


The  Magic   Pavilion          227 

upon  her  arrival,  brought  her  before  the  throne.  She 
kissed  the  ground  before  the  Sultan,  and  he  addressed 
her  thus:  "The  affliction  I  have  been  in  on  account  of 
the  absence  of  Prince  Ahmed  is  so  well  known  that 
thou  canst  be  no  stranger  to  it.  By  thy  art  and  thy 
skill,  canst  thou  not  tell  me  what  hath  become  of  him? 
If  he  be  yet  alive,  where  is  he?  What  is  he  doing? 
And  may  I  ever  hope  to  see  him  again?  " 

To  this  the  sorceress  replied:  "O  King  of  the  age,  it 
is  impossible  for  me,  however  skilful  my  profession, 
to  answer  immediately  the  questions  thou  askest;  but 
if  thou  wilt  allow  me  to  wait  until  to-morrow,  I  will  en- 
deavour to  satisfy  thee."  The  Sultan  granted  her  the 
time,  and  permitted  her  to  retire  with  a  promise  to 
recompense  her  liberally  if  she  could  soon  tell  him 
where  Prince  Ahmed  was. 

The  sorceress  returned  the  next  day,  and  the  Grand 
Vizier  presented  her  a  second  time  to  the  Sultan. 
"O  King  of  the  age,"  said  she,  "know  that  notwith- 
standing all  the  rules  of  my  art,  I  have  been  unable 
to  discover  anything  more  than  that  Prince  Ahmed  is 
alive.  This  much  is  certain,  and  thou  must  be  con- 
tent with  the  knowledge  of  his  safety,  but  where  he  is 
I  cannot  discover."  The  Sultan  of  India  was  obliged 
to  remain  satisfied  with  this  answer,  which  left  him 
in  the  same  uneasiness  as  before. 

To  return  to  Prince  Ahmed.  He  so  often  enter- 
tained the  Fairy  Periebanou  with  talking  about  his 
father,  though  without  mentioning  his  desire  to  visit 
him,  that  she  soon  saw  his  love  for  her  was  sin- 
cere, and  she  began  to  blame  herself  for  opposing  a 
son's  tenderness  for  his  father;  so  she  resolved  to  grant 
him  the  permission  which  he  so  ardently  desired.  One 


228       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

day  she  said  to  the  Prince:  "Thy  request  to  be  allowed 
to  go  and  see  the  Sultan  thy  father  gave  me  appre- 
hension that  it  was  only  a  pretext  to  conceal  incon- 
stancy; but  now  that  I  am  fully  convinced  that  I  can 
depend  upon  thy  honour  and  the  fidelity  of  thy  love, 
I  change  my  resolution  and  grant  thee  the  permission 
thou  seekest  on  condition  that  thou  first  swear  to  me 
that  thine  absence  shall  not  be  for  long." 

Prince  Ahmed  would  have  thrown  himself  at  the 
Fairy's  feet  to  show  his  gratitude,  but  she  prevented 
him.  "O  my  Princess,"  said  he,  "words  cannot  ex- 
press my  thanks !  Thou  mayest  believe  that  the  oath 
will  give  me  no  uneasiness  since  it  is  not  possible  for 
me  to  live  without  thee.  I  go,  but  the  haste  I  will  make 
to  return  shall  show  how  much  I  love  thee." 

"O  my  Prince,"  replied -Periebanou,  delighted  with 
his  sentiments,  "go  when  it  pleaseth  thee,  but  do  not 
take  it  amiss  if  I  advise  thee  how  to  conduct  thyself. 
It  is  best  that  thou  shouldst  not  inform  thy  father  of 
our  marriage,  nor  of  my  being  a  Fairy,  nor  the  place  of 
our  residence.  Beg  him  to  be  satisfied  with  knowing 
that  thou  art  happy,  that  thou  dost  want  nothing  from 
him,  and  let  him  know  that  the  sole  aim  of  thy  visit  is 
to  make  him  easy  respecting  thy  fate." 

Periebanou  then  appointed  twenty  horsemen,  well 
mounted  and  equipped,  to  attend  him.  When  all  was 
ready  Prince  Ahmed  took  tender  leave  of  the  Fairy 
and  renewed  his  promise  to  return  soon.  A  beautiful 
charger,  most  richly  caparisoned,  was  brought  to  him, 
which  he  mounted  with  extraordinary  grace.  He  then 
bade  the  Fairy  farewell  and  set  forth  on  his  journey. 
As  it  was  no  great  distance  to  his  father's  capital,  he 
soon  arrived  there.  The  people  rejoiced  to  see  him 


The   Magic   Pavilion          229 

again,  and  received  him  with  acclamations,  and  followed 
him  in  crowds  to  the  palace. 

The  Sultan  embraced  him  with  great  joy,  complain- 
ing at  the  same  time  of  the  affliction  his  long  absence 
had  occasioned.  "O  my  father,"  answered  Prince 
Ahmed,  "after  having  lost  the  Princess  Nouronnihar, 
I  could  not  bear  to  be  a  witness  of  Ali's  happiness. 
Thou  knowest  that  when  I  shot  my  arrow  it  was  not 
possible  to  find  it.  I  lost  no  time  but,  leaving  my  at- 
tendants, returned  alone  to  the  plain  to  look  for  the 
arrow.  I  sought  it  in  the  place  where  Houssain's  and 
Ali's  were  found,  but  all  my  labour  was  in  vain.  I  was 
not  discouraged,  but  going  in  a  direct  line  proceeded 
the  distance  of  four  leagues,  and  found  myself  drawn 
against  my  will  to  that  part  of  the  plain  that  is  bounded 
by  high  rocks,  and  there 'I  perceived  my  arrow  lying 
upon  the  ground.  This  discovery  led  to  a  mystery,  and 
I  implore  thee  not  to  be  offended  if  I  conceal  this  secret, 
and  merely  tell  thee  that  I  am  happy  and  contented 
with  my  fate.  In  the  midst  of  my  happiness  the  only 
thing  that  troubled  me,  was  the  uneasiness  I  felt  lest 
thou  wert  suffering  on  account  of  my  leaving  thy  court. 
I  thought  it  my  duty  to  satisfy  thee  upon  this  point. 
This  was  the  only  motive  that  brought  me  hither. 
The  only  favour  I  ask  of  thee,  is  to  give  me  leave  to 
come  occasionally  to  pay  thee  my  duty,  and  inquire 
after  thy  health." 

"O  my  son,"  replied  the  Sultan  of  India,  "I  cannot 
refuse  thee  the  permission  thou  askest;  but  I  would 
much  rather  that  thou  shouldst  stay  here  with  me; 
but  since  that  cannot  be,  I  will  penetrate  no  further 
into  thy  secret.  Thou  wilt,  however,  be  always  wel- 
come when  thou  comest  to  visit  me."  After  this  the 


230       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

Prince  remained  three  days  at  the  Sultan's  court,  and 
then  returned  to  the  Fairy  Periebanou,  who  received 
him  with  great  joy. 

A  month  later,  at  the  Fairy's  request,  Prince  Ahmed 
paid  another  visit  to  the  Sultan  his  father.  The 
Fairy  provided  him  with  the  same  attendants  as  before, 
but  much  more  magnificently  mounted  and  equipped. 
He  was  received  by  the  Sultan  with  the  same  joy  and 
satisfaction.  In  this  wise  for  several  months  the  Prince 
continued  to  visit  the  royal  court,  always  accompanied 
by  a  richer  and  more  brilliant  equipage.  At  last  the 
Sultan's  favourites,  who  judged  of  Prince  Ahmed's 
power  by  the  splendour  of  his  appearance,  determined 
to  make  the  Sultan  jealous  of  his  son.  They  urged  him 
to  discover  the  place  to  which  the  Prince  retired  so 
mysteriously,  and  to  find  how  he  could  afford  to  live 
so  magnificently.  They  added  that  he  seemed  to  come 
to  court  only  to  insult  the  Sultan,  and  to  show  that  he 
needed  nothing  from  his  father  to  enable  him  to  live  like 
a  prince,  and  that  it  was  feared  lest  the  Prince  might 
court  the  people's  favour  and  dethrone  the  Sultan,  in 
order  to  avenge  himself  for  the  loss  of  the  Princess  Nou- 
ronnihar.  They  also  pointed  out  that  he  could  not 
reside  far  from  the  capital,  since  every  time  he  came 
his  attendants  were  newly  clad,  their  arms  clean  and 
bright,  and  their  horses  looked  as  though  they  had 
walked  but  a  little  way. 

When  the  favourites  had  concluded  these  insinua- 
tions, the  Sultan  said:  "I  do  not  believe  that  my  son 
Ahmed  is  so  wicked  as  ye  would  persuade  me  he  is.  I 
am,  however,  grateful  for  your  advice,  and  do  not  doubt 
that  it  proceedeth  from  good  intentions  and  loyalty  to 
my  person." 


The  Magic   Pavilion          231 

In  spite  of  his  words,  the  Sultan  of  India  was  very 
much  alarmed  by  what  his  favourites  had  said,  and  he 
resolved  to  have  Prince  Ahmed  watched,  unknown  to 
his  Grand  Vizier.  For  this  end  he  sent  for  the  sorceress, 
who  was  introduced  by  a  private  door  into  his  cabinet. 
He  commanded  her  to  watch  for  Prince  Ahmed,  and 
to  discover  the  place  of  his  abode.  The  sorceress  said: 
"I  hear  and  obey,"  and  left  the  presence  of  the  Sultan. 
Knowing  the  spot  where  Prince  Ahmed  had  found  his 
arrow,  she  went  immediately  there  and  concealed 
herself  behind  some  rocks. 

The  next  morning  Prince  Ahmed  set  out  by  day- 
break from  the  court,  as  was  his  custom.  The  sorceress 
seeing  him  coming,  followed  him  with  her  eyes,  until 
suddenly  she  lost  sight  of  him  and  his  attendants.  As 
the  rocks  were  too  steep  for  men  and  horses  to  climb  over 
them,  she  thought  that  the  Prince  must  have  retired  into 
a  cavern  or  a  subterraneous  abode  of  Genii  or  Fairies. 
She  began  to  explore  the  rocks,  searching  for  a  cavern, 
but  notwithstanding  all  her  arts,  she  could  perceive  no 
opening,  nor  the  iron  gate  which  Prince  Ahmed  had 
discovered.  For  this  door  was  to  be  seen  by  those  only 
whose  presence  was  agreeable  to  the  Fairy  Periebanou. 
The  sorceress  then^  returned  to  the  Sultan  and  in- 
formed him  of  what  she  had  seen,  saying  that  she  would 
take  further  measures  to  solve  the  mystery. 

The  next  month  when  the  time  arrived  for  Prince 
Ahmed  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  Sultan  his  father,  the  sor- 
ceress once  nlore-proceeded  to  the  rocks,  and  lay  down 
with  her  head  upon  a  stone.  When  Prince  Ahmed 
went  out  as  usual  at  the  iron  gate,  with  the  same  at- 
tendants as  before,  he  passed  the  sorceress,  and  seeing 
her  lying  on  the  ground  moaning  as  if  in  great  pain,  he 


232       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

pitied  her,  and,  turning  his  horse,  asked  what  he  could 
do  to  relieve  her.  The  artful  sorceress,  without  lift- 
ing her  head,  answered  in  broken  accents,  with  groans, 
that  she  was  going  to  the  city  and  was  taken  with  a  vio- 
lent fever,  that  her  strength  had  failed  her,  and  she  was 
forced  to  lie  down  where  he  saw  her,  far  from  all  assist- 
ance. "O  my  good  woman,"  replied  the  Prince,  "thou 
art  not  so  far  from  assistance  as  thou  dost  imagine. 
I  will  convey  thee  where  thou  shalt  not  only  have  all 
possible  care,  but  where  thou  shalt  find  a  speedy  cure. 
Rise  and  let  one  of  my  people  take  thee  behind  him." 

At  these  words,  the  sorceress,  who  pretended  sick- 
ness only  to  find  out  where  the  Prince  resided,  groan- 
ing, raised  herself  slowly  from  the  ground,  while  at  the 
same  time  two  of  the  Prince's  attendants  alighted, 
helped  her  up,  and  placed  her  on  a  horse.  They  then 
mounted  their  horses  again,  and  followed  the  Prince, 
who  turned  back  to  the  iron  gate,  which  was  opened  by 
one  of  his  retinue.  When  he  came  into  the  outer 
court  of  the  Fairy's  palace,  without  dismounting 
he  sent  to  tell  her  that  he  wished  to  speak  with  her. 
She  came  with  all  imaginable  haste,  not  knowing  what 
had  made  Prince  Ahmed  return  so  soon.  On  seeing 
the  sorceress,  and  hearing  her  tale,  the  Fairy,  who  had 
been  watching  the  pretended  sick  woman  for  some 
minutes,  ordered  two  of  her  damsels  to  conduct  her  into 
an  apartment  of  the  palace,  and  take  as  good  care  of 
her  as  they  would  take  of  herself. 

While  the  two  damsels  were  executing  her  commands, 
the  Fairy  went  up  to  Prince  Ahmed  and  said:  "O  my 
Prince,  I  commend  thy  compassion,  which  is  worthy  of 
thee  and  thy  birth;  but  permit  me  to  say  that  this 
woman  is  not  so  sick  as  she  pretendeth  to  be.  I  am  much 


The   Magic    Pavilion  233 

mistaken  if  she  hath  not  been  sent  hither  to  make  thee 
great  trouble.  Be  not  concerned,  however,  for  I  will  de- 
liver thee  out  of  all  the  snares  that  shall  be  laid  for 
thee.  Go  then  in  peace  and  pursue  thy  journey." 

Wondering  at  all  this,  but  not  alarmed,  Prince  Ahmed 
took  tender  leave  of  the  Fairy  and  set  forward  again 
for  his  father's  capital,  where  he  soon  arrived,  and  was 
received  as  usual  by  the  Sultan,  who  effectually  con- 
cealed the  suspicions  he  entertained. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  two  damsels  to  whom  the 
Fairy  had  given  her  orders,  conveyed  the  sorceress  into 
an  elegant  apartment,  richly  furnished.  They  placed 
her  on  a  couch  covered  with  gold-brocade  embroidered 
with  silk,  and  threw  over  her  a  quilt  of  cloth-of-gold. 
Then  one  of  them  presented  her  with  a  cup  saying: 
"Drink  this  liquor,  it  is  the  water  of  the  Fountain  of 
Lions,  and  will  straightway  cure  thy  fever."  The 
sorceress,  the  better  to  dissemble,  took  the  cup  and 
drank  the  liquid,  then  she  lay  down  again  and  the  two 
damsels  covered  her,  saying:  "Lie  quietly,  and  get  a 
little  sleep,  if  thou  canst.  We  will  now  leave  thee,  and 
we  hope  to  find  thee  perfectly  recovered  when  we  re- 
turn an  hour  hence."  And  they  departed. 

The  two  damsels  came  again  at  the  time  mentioned, 
and  found  the  sorceress  seated  upon  the  couch,  who 
when  she  saw  them  open  the  door  of  the  apartment, 
cried  out:  "O  the  admirable  potion!  It  hath  wrought 
its  cure  sooner  than  I  expected,  and  I  have  been  await- 
ing thee  with  great  impatience.  Wilt  thou  not  conduct 
me  to  thy  charitable  mistress,  so  that  I  may  thank  her 
for  being  thus  cured  as  by  a  miracle?  Then  I  may  once 
more  prosecute  my  journey." 

The  two  damsels,  who  were  Fairies  as  well  as  their 


234       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

mistress,  after  they  had  congratulated  the  sorceress  on 
her  restoration  to  health,  walked  before  her,  and  con- 
ducted her  through  many  apartments,  all  more  superb 
than  that  wherein  she  had  lain.  They  led  her  into  a 
large  hall, — the  most  richly  and  magnificently  fur- 
nished of  all  the  palace.  The  Fairy  Periebanou  was 
seated  upon  a  throne  of  massy  gold,  enriched  with 
diamonds,  and  rubies,  and  pearls  of  an  extraordinary 
size,  and  attended  on  each  hand  by  a  great  number  of 
beautiful  Fairies,  all  richly  clad. 

At  the  sight  of  so  much  splendour,  the  sorceress  was 
not  only  dazzled,  but  so  struck  with  wonder,  that, 
after  she  had  prostrated  herself  before  the  throne,  she 
could  not  open  her  lips  to  thank  the  Fairy  for  all  she 
had  done.  However,  Periebanou  saved  her  the  trouble, 
and  said:  "O  my  good  woman,  I  am  glad  that  I  had 
the  opportunity  to  aid  thee,  and  rejoice  that  thou 
mayest  now  pursue  thy  journey.  I  will  not  detain  thee, 
but  perhaps  thou  wouldst  like  to  see  my  palace.  If  so, 
follow  my  damsels,  and  they  will  show  it  to  thee." 

The  old  sorceress,  who  had  not  the  power  nor  courage 
to  utter  a  word,  prostrated  herself  a  second  time  before 
the  throne,  and  then  took  her  leave.  She  was  conducted 
by  two  Fairies  through  the  same  apartments  which 
were  shown  to  Prince  Ahmed  at  his  first  arrival,  and 
she  was  overcome  by  their  magnificence.  She  was  the 
more  astonished  when  the  Fairies  informed  her  that 
all  she  now  saw  and  so  much  admired  was  but  a  small 
part  of  their  mistress's  grandeur  and  riches;  for  that 
in  the  extent  of  her  dominions  she  had  so  many  palaces 
that  they  could  not  tell  their  number.  They  also  said 
that  these  palaces  were  of  different  plans  and  architec- 
ture and  equally  magnificent.  At  last  they  led  her  to 


The   Magic   Pavilion          235 

the  iron  door  through  which  Prince  Ahmed  had  brought 
her  in.  They  opened  it,  wished  her  a  good  journey, 
and  dismissed  her. 

After  the  sorceress  had  gone  a  little  way,  she  turned 
to  look  at  the  door  that  she  might  know  it  again,  but 
all  in  vain  for,  as  before,  it  was  invisible  to  her.  She 
then  hastened  to  the  capital,  and  went  by  many  side- 
streets  to  the  private  door  of  the  palace.  The  Sultan 
being  informed  of  her  arrival,  sent  immediately  for 
her.  The  sorceress  related  to  him  the  whole  story  from 
beginning  to  end;  assuring  him  that  Prince  Ahmed  had 
married  a  Fairy.  She  also  told  about  the  magnificence 
of  the  palace,  the  majesty  of  Periebanou  who  was  seated 
upon  a  throne,  and  decked  with  brilliant  jewels,  the  value 
of  which  exceeded  all  the  riches  of  the  kingdom  of  India. 
Then  the  sorceress,  having  finished  the  relation  of  her  ad- 
venture, continued  thus:  "And  what,  O  King  of  the  age, 
dost  thou  think  of  these  marvellous  riches  of  the  Fairy? 
Perhaps  thou  art  struck  with  admiration,  and  dost 
rejoice  at  the  good  fortune  of  thy  son,  Prince  Ahmed. 
For  my  part  I  must  think  otherwise,  and  I  shudder 
when  I  consider  the  misfortunes  that  may  come  upon 
thee,  for  who  knoweth  whether  this  Fairy  will  not  inspire 
the  Prince  with  the  unnatural  desire  to  dethrone  thee 
and  seize  the  crown  of  India?  This  is  what,  O  King  of 
the  age,  thou  shouldst  consider  as  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance." The  Sultan  on  hearing  these  words  sum- 
moned his  favourites  and  informed  them  of  all  the 
sorceress  had  said. 

Thereupon  one  of  them,  taking  upon  himself  to  speak 
for  the  rest,  said:  "O  King  of  the  age,  hi  order  to  pre- 
vent the  treachery  of  Prince  Ahmed,  we  counsel  thee 
to  order  his  arrest,  and  place  him  in  prison."  This 


236       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

advice  all  the  other  favourites  unanimously  applauded. 
The  sorceress,  however,  asked  the  Sultan  for  leave  to 
speak,  and  having  obtained  permission,  said:  "O  mighty 
King,  if  thou  arrest  Prince  Ahmed,  then  must  thou 
also  detain  his  attendants;  but  they  are  all  Genii.  It 
will  not  be  possible  to  surprise,  seize  and  secure  them, 
for  they  will  disappear,  rendering  themselves  invisible 
by  their  magic  arts.  Thereupon  they  will  instantly 
transport  themselves  to  the  Fairy,  and  inform  her  of 
the  insult  to  her  husband.  She  will  not  let  the  deed  go 
unrevenged.  Would  it  not  be  better  if  other  means 
were  used  to  secure  thee,  O  King  of  the  age,  against  the 
evil  designs  of  Prince  Ahmed?  As  Genii  and  Fairies 
can  accomplish  wonders  by  means  of  their  great  power 
and  knowledge,  do  thou  ask  Prince  Ahmed  to  gain  for 
thee,  through  the  generosity  of  the  Fairy,  certain 
rarities.  For  example :  every  time  thou  takes t  thy  army 
into  the  field,  thou  art  at  a  great  expense  to  provide 
pavilions  and  tents  not  only  for  thyself  and  thy  soldiers, 
but  likewise  for  herds  of  mules,  camels,  and  other  beasts. 
Therefore  request  the  Prince  to  procure  for  thee  a 
pavilion,  which  may  be  carried  in  a  man's  hand,  but 
also  be  large  enough  to  shelter  thine  entire  army. 

"If  the  Prince  bring  such  a  pavilion,  thou  mayest 
make  other  demands  of  the  same  nature,  so  that  at 
last  he  may  not  be  able  to  execute  thy  requests,  and 
he  will  be  ashamed  to  return  hither,  and  will  be  forced 
to  live  the  rest  of  his  life  with  the  Fairy;  then  thou  wilt 
have  nothing  to  fear  from  him."  When  the  sorceress 
finished  speaking,  the  Sultan  asked  his  favourites  if 
they  had  anything  better  to  propose,  but  finding  them 
silent,  he  determined  to  follow  her  advice. 

The  next  day,  Prince  Ahmed  presented  himself,  as 


The   Magic   Pavilion  237 

was  his  custom,  before  the  Sultan's  throne,  and  when 
he  had  seated  himself,  his  father  addressed  him  as 
follows:  "O  my  son,  when  thou  earnest  and  didst 
dispel  those  clouds  of  melancholy  which  thy  long  ab- 
sence had  brought  upon  me,  thou  didst  make  of  thy 
retreat  a  mystery.  I  now  know  thy  good  fortune,  and 
I  rejoice  with  thee,  and  approve  of  thy  marrying  a 
Fairy  so  worthy  of  thy  love,  and  so  rich  and  powerful 
as  I  am  informed  she  is.  Now  that  thou  art  raised  to 
so  high  a  rank,  as  to  be  envied  by  all  but  a  father,  I 
request  that  thou  wilt  use  thy  influence  with  thy  wife 
to  procure  for  me  a  favour.  Thou  knowest  at  what  a 
great  expense  I  am  every  time  I  take  the  field.  I  am 
forced  to  provide  tents  for  my  soldiers,  and  mules,  and 
camels,  and  other  beasts  of  burden,  to  carry  them. 
I  am  persuaded  that  thou  canst  procure  from  the  Fairy 
a  pavilion  that  may  be  carried  in  a  man's  hand,  and  yet 
be  large  enough  to  extend  over  all  my  army.  Though 
it  may  be  a  difficult  thing  to  procure,  thy  wife  will  not 
refuse  thee  it,  especially  when  she  learneth  that  it  is 
for  me.  All  the  world  knows  that  Fairies  are  capable 
of  executing  the  most  extraordinary  undertakings." 

Prince  Ahmed  was  wonderstruck  at  hearing  this 
request  of  the  Sultan  his  father.  Though  he  knew 
something  of  the  power  of  Genii  and  Fairies,  he  doubted 
whether  it  was  possible  for  them  to  furnish  such  a 
pavilion  as  his  father  desired.  Moreover  he  had  never 
asked  anything  of  the  Fairy  Periebanou,  but  was  satis- 
fied with  the  continual  proofs  she  had  given  him  of 
her  affection.  He  was  therefore  greatly  embarrassed 
as  to  what  answer  to  make.  "O  my  father,"  said  he, 
"I  know  not  how  this  mystery  hath  been  revealed  to 
thee.  I  am  indeed  married  to  a  Fairy.  I  love  her  and 


238       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

am  persuaded  that  she  loves  me  in  return.  But  I  can 
say  nothing  as  to  the  influence  thou  sayest  I  have  over 
her.  However,  the  demand  of  a  father  is  a  command 
upon  every  child,  who,  like  me,  thinks  it  is  his  duty  to 
obey  him  in  everything.  Though  I  feel  the  greatest 
reluctance,  I  will  not  fail  to  ask  my  wife  the  favour 
thou  desirest,  but  I  cannot  promise  to  obtain  it  for 
thee.  If  I  do  not  come  again  to  pay  my  respects  to 
thee,  it  will  be  a  sign  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  pro- 
cure the  pavilion." 

Prince  Ahmed,  having  spoken  thus,  returned  in 
sorrow  to  the  Fairy  Periebanou,  who  received  him 
tenderly.  When  she  observed  his  sorrowful  looks,  she 
urged  him  to  confide  in  her  and  tell  his  grief.  The  Prince 
refused  to  do  so  for  a  long  time,  until  at  last  the  Fairy 
pressed  him,  saying:  "Tell  me,  I  pray,  the  cause  of 
thine  uneasiness,  that  I  may  remove  it.  Verily  it  must 
be  most  extraordinary  if  it  is  beyond  my  power." 

Prince  Ahmed  could  not  long  withstand  the  urging 
of  the  Fairy.  "O  my  Queen,"  he  replied,  "may  Allah 
prolong  the  life  of  the  Sultan  my  father!  I  left  him  in 
perfect  health,  but,  alas,  he  hath  discovered  our  secret 
marriage.  How  he  hath  been  informed  I  cannot  tell." 
Here  the  Fairy  interrupted  Prince  Ahmed,  "But  I 
know,"  said  she.  "Remember  what  I  told  thee  of  the 
old  woman  on  whom  thou  didst  take  compassion. 
She  was  not  ill,  but  was  an  impostor.  But  proceed  and 
tell  me  what  duty  thy  father  hath  imposed  upon  thee 
to  perform." 

"O  my  Queen,"  answered  Prince  Ahmed,  "know 
that  it  is  not  I  myself,  but  the  Sultan  my  father  who 
desireth  of  thee  a  pavilion  large  enough  to  shelter  him, 
his  court  and  his  entire  army,  and  which  a  man  may 


The  Magic   Pavilion          239 

carry  in  his  hand."  "O  my  Prince,"  said  the  Fairy, 
"I  am  sorry  that  so  trifling  a  matter  should  disturb 
thee.  Therefore  be  easy  in  thy  mind,  and  rest  assured 
that  the  performance  of  thy  request  is  not  only  within 
my  power,  but  that  I  take  real  pleasure  in  doing  what- 
ever thou  desirest." 

The  Fairy  then  summoned  her  treasurer,  to  whom 
she  said:  "Noor-Jehaun,  bring  me  the  largest  pavilion 
in  my  treasury."  Noor-Jehaun  returned  presently 
with  a  pavilion  which  could  be  concealed  in  the  palm 
of  the  hand,  and  presented  it  to  her  mistress,  who  gave 
it  to  Prince  Ahmed  to  examine.  When  the  Prince  saw 
the  smallness  of  it  he  thought  that  the  Fairy  was  jest- 
ing with  him,  and  his  surprise  showed  in  his  counte- 
nance; but  Periebanou  laughed  and  said:  "What!  dost 
thou  think  I  jest  with  thee?  Thou  wilt  see  that  I  am 
in  earnest.  Noor-Jehaun,"  said  she  to  her  treasurer, 
taking  the  pavilion  out  of  the  hand  of  Prince  Ahmed, 
"Go,  set  this  up,  that  he  may  judge  whether  the  Sul- 
tan his  father  will  think  it  large  enough." 

The  treasurer  went  out  with  the  pavilion  from  the 
palace,  and,  carrying  it  to  a  distance,  set  it  down.  Im- 
mediately it  grew  and  expanded  until  one  end  reached 
to  the  palace.  The  Prince,  so  far  from  thinking  it  too 
small  now  found  it  large  enough  to  shelter  two  armies 
the  size  of  his  father's.  "O  my  Queen,"  said  he, 
"verily  I  ask  thy  pardon  for  my  unbelief!  After  what 
I  have  seen  I  believe  that  there  is  nothing  impossible 
to  thee."  "Thou  seest,"  said  the  Fairy,  "that  the 
pavilion  is  larger  than  thy  father  may  have  occasion 
for.  But  it  becometh  larger  or  smaller  according  to  the 
extent  of  the  army  it  is  to  cover." 

The  treasurer  took  down  the  pavilion  again,  reduced 


240       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

it  to  its  first  size,  and  placed  it  in  the  hands  of  Prince 
Ahmed.  He  took  it,  and  without  further  delay, 
mounted  his  horse  and  bade  the  Fairy  farewell;  and, 
with  the  usual  attendants,  journeyed  to  the  capital  of 
the  Sultan  his  father,  who  received  him  with  great 
surprise.  The  Prince  placed  the  pavilion  in  his  hands, 
and  after  he  had  admired  its  smallness,  the  Sultan 
commanded  that  it  should  be  set  up  on  the  broad  plain 
near  the  palace.  Great  was  his  amazement  to  find  it 
increase  in  size  until  it  was  big  enough  to  shelter  an 
army  twice  as  large  as  he  could  bring  into  the  field. 
Prince  Ahmed  then  informed  him  that  its  size  would 
always  be  in  proportion  to  his  army. 

The  Sultan  expressed  in  words  his  gratitude  to  the 
Prince  for  so  noble  a  gift,  desiring  him  to  return  his 
thanks  to  the  Fairy;  but  in  his  heart  he  felt  greater 
jealousy  than  his  flatterers  and  the  sorceress  had  sug- 
gested to  him.  Therefore  as  soon  as  Prince  Ahmed 
had  withdrawn  from  his  presence,  he  sent  again  for  the 
sorceress,  who  advised  him  to  request  the  Prince  to 
bring  him  some  of  the  water  from  the  Fountain  of 
Lions.  In  the  evening  when  the  Sultan  was  surrounded, 
as  usual,  by  the  Emirs,  Viziers,  and  other  grandees  of 
his  court,  the  Prince  came  to  pay  his  respects  before 
returning  to  the  abode  of  the  Fairy.  "O  my  son,"  said 
the  Sultan,  "I  have  already  expressed  my  thanks  for 
the  present  thou  hast  procured  me,  which  I  esteem  the 
most  valuable  curiosity  in  my  treasury.  But  thou 
must  do  one  thing  more  for  me.  I  am  informed  that 
the  Fairy  thy  wife  maketh  use  of  a  certain  water,  drawn 
from  the  Fountain  of  Lions,  which  cureth  all  sorts  of 
fevers.  As  my  health  is  dear  to  thee,  I  do  not  doubt 
but  thou  wilt  ask  her  for  a  bottle  of  that  water.  Do 


The   Magic    Pavilion  241 

me  this  important  service,  and  complete  the  duty  of  a 
good  son  toward  a  tender  father." 

Prince  Ahmed,  who  had  thought  that  his  father  would 
not  impose  any  new  task  upon  him  which  might  hazard 
the  Fairy's  displeasure,  was  thunderstruck  at  this 
request.  After  a  long  silence  he  said:  "O  my  father, 
I  beg  thee  to  rest  assured  that  there  is  nothing  that  I 
would  not  undertake  to  contribute  to  thy  health.  I 
cannot,  however,  promise  to  bring  the  water.  All  I 
can  do  is  to  request  it  of  my  wife;  but,  alas!  I  shall  do 
so  with  the  same  reluctance  that  made  me  hesitate  to 
ask  for  the  pavilion." 

The  next  morning  Prince  Ahmed  returned  to  the 
Fairy  Periebanou,  and  related  to  her  all  that  had  passed 
at  the  Sultan's  court,  and  told  her  of  the  new  request 
his  father  had  charged  him  Vvith.  "I  am  glad,"  re- 
plied the  Fairy,  "that  the  Sultan  knoweth  that  thou 
art  not  indifferent  to  me.  I  will  satisfy  him,  and  what- 
ever advice  the  sorceress  giveth  him  (for  I  see  that  he 
hearkeneth  to  her  counsel),  he  shall  find  no  fault  with 
thee  or  me.  There  is  much  wickedness  in  this  demand, 
as  thou  wilt  understand,  by  what  I  am  about  to  tell 
thee.  The  Fountain  of  Lions  is  situated  in  the  court 
of  a  great  castle,  the  entrance  to  which  is  guarded  by 
four  fierce  lions;  two  of  them  sleep  by  day  and  two  by 
night.  But  let  that  not  frighten  thee.  I  will  supply 
thee  with  the  means  to  pass  them  without  danger." 

The  Fairy  then  presented  Prince  Ahmed  with  a  clue 
of  thread  saying:  "First,  take  this  clue.  I  will  presently 
tell  thee  the  use  of  it.  In  the  second  place,  thou  must 
have  two  horses.  One  thou  must  ride  thyself,  the 
other  thou  must  lead  which  must  be  loaded  with  a 
sheep  cut  into  four  quarters.  In  the  third  place,  thou 


242       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

must  be  provided  with  a  bottle,  which  I  will  give  thee, 
to  bring  the  water  in.  Set  out  early  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  when  thou  hast  passed  the  iron  door,  throw 
before  thee  this  clue  of  thread,  which  will  roll  on  until 
it  reaches  the  gates  of  the  castle.  Follow  it,  and  when 
it  stops  the  gates  will  open,  and  thou  wilt  see  the  four 
lions.  The  two  that  are  awake  will  by  their  roaring 
wake  the  other  two.  Be  not  alarmed,  but  throw  each 
of  them  a  quarter  of  the  sheep,  then  clap  spurs  to  thy 
horse  and  ride  to  the  fountain.  Fill  the  bottle  without 
alighting,  and  return  with  the  same  expedition.  The 
lions  will  be  so  busy  that  they  will  let  thee  pass  un- 
molested." 

Prince  Ahmed  set  out  the  next  morning  at  the  time 
appointed  by  the  Fairy,  and  following  her  directions 
arrived  at  the  castle.  He  distributed  the  quarters  of 
the  sheep  among  the  lions,  and,  passing  through  the 
midst  of  them,  reached  the  fountain,  filled  his  bottle 
and  returned  safe.  On  looking  back  at  the  castle  he 
beheld  two  of  the  lions  coming  after  him,  and  he  drew 
his  sabre  to  defend  himself.  But  he  soon  perceived  by 
the  motions  of  their  tails  and  heads,  that  they  meant 
him  no  harm.  One  lion  went  before  him,  and  the  other 
followed;  and  guarded  in  this  manner  he  arrived  at  the 
capital  of  India,  but  the  lions  never  left  him  until  they 
had  conducted  him  to  the  gates  of  the  Sultan's  palace; 
after  which  they  returned  the  way  they  had  come. 

A  number  of  officers  came  to  attend  the  Prince  while 
he  dismounted,  and  conduct  him  to  the  Sultan  who 
was  at  that  time  conversing  with  his  favourites.  The 
Prince  approached  the  throne,  and  laid  the  bottle  at 
the  Sultan's  feet,  kissed  the  rich  carpet  that  covered  the 
steps  of  the  throne,  and  rising  said:  "I  have  brought 


The  Magic   Pavilion          243 

thee,  O  my  father,  the  water  from  the  Fountain  of 
Lions,  as  thou  didst  desire.  And  at  the  same  time  I 
wish  thee  such  health  as  never  to  have  occasion  to  make 
use  of  it." 

"O  my  son,"  answered  the  Sultan,  "I  appreciate 
this  valuable  present  all  the  more  because  of  the  great 
danger  to  which  thou  hast  exposed  thyself.  But  do 
thou,"  continued  he,  "inform  me  by  what  incredible 
power  thou  hast  been  preserved."  Prince  Ahmed  then 
related  his  story  to  the  Sultan  telling  him  of  the  Fairy's 
advice  and  how  he  had  followed  it,  and  thus  procured 
the  water  from  the  Fountain  of  Lions.  When  he  fin- 
ished his  tale,  the  Sultan,  who  expressed  his  satisfac- 
tion in  words  but  secretly  became  more  and  more  jeal- 
ous, withdrew  into  his  private  apartment,  and  sent 
immediately  for  the  sorceress.  She,  on  her  arrival, 
saved  the  Sultan  the  trouble  of  telling  her  of  the  suc- 
cess of  Prince  Ahmed,  which  she  had  already  heard 
about.  She  was  therefore  prepared  with  a  new  request. 
This  she  communicated  to  the  Sultan,  who  declared  it 
the  next  day  to  the  Prince. 

"O  my  son,"  said  he,  "I  have  one  thing  yet  to  ask 
of  thee  after  which  I  shall  expect  nothing  more  of  thy 
obedience.  Bring  me  a  man  not  above  a  foot  and  a  half 
high,  whose  beard  is  thirty  feet  long,  who  carries  upon 
his  shoulder  an  iron  bar  of  five  hundred  weight  which 
he  uses  as  a  quarter-staff."  Prince  Ahmed,  who  did 
not  believe  that  there  was  such  a  man  in  the  world, 
would  gladly  have  excused  himself,  but  the  Sultan  per- 
sisted in  his  demand,  and  told  him  that  the  Fairy  could 
do  incredible  things. 

Next  day  the  Prince  returned  to  the  subterranean 
palace  of  the  Fairy  Periebanou,  to  whom  he  related 


244       Story   of  Prince   Ahmed 

his  father's  new  demand.  "Do  not  doubt  me,  O  my 
Prince!"  replied  she.  "Thou  didst  run  great  danger  in 
fetching  the  water  from  the  Fountain  of  Lions,  but 
there  is  no  danger  in  finding  this  man.  It  is  my  brother 
Schaibar,  who  is  so  far  from  being  like  me,  though  we 
both  had  the  same  father.  He  is  of  so  violent  a  dis- 
position, that  nothing  can  prevent  his  giving  bloody 
marks  of  his  resentment  in  return  for  a  slight  offense; 
yet,  on  the  other  hand,  he  is  so  liberal  as  to  oblige  those 
he  likes  in  any  way  they  may  desire.  I  will  now  send  for 
him,  and  thou  shalt  judge  of  the  truth  of  what  I  am 
telling  thee.  But  prepare  thyself  not  to  be  alarmed  at 
his  extraordinary  figure." 

The  Fairy  ordered  a  gold  chafing-dish  to  be  set  with 
a  fire  in  it.  She  then  took  a  box  of  the  same  metal, 
opened  it,  and  took  forth  some  incense;  this  she  threw 
into  the  fire,  and  immediately  a  thick  cloud  of  smoke 
rose.  A  few  moments  after,  the  Fairy  said  to  Prince 
Ahmed:  "There  cometh  my  brother.  Dost  thou  see 
him?"  The  Prince  immediately  perceived  Schaibar, 
who  was  but  a  foot  and  a  half  high,  coming  gravely, 
with  his  heavy  bar  upon  his  shoulder.  His  beard  was 
thirty  feet  long,  and  a  pair  of  thick  moustaches  was 
tucked  over  his  ears,  and  almost  covered  his  face.  His 
eyes  were  very  small,  like  a  pig's,  and  deeply  sunken  in 
his  head,  which  was  of  an  enormous  size,  and  on  which 
he  wore  a  pointed  cap.  Besides  all  this  he  had  a  hump 
behind  and  before.  If  Prince  Ahmed  had  not  known 
that  Schaibar  was  Periebanou's  brother,  he  would  not 
have  been  able  to  behold  him  without  fear;  but  know- 
ing who  he  was,  he  awaited  his  approach  without  the 
least  concern. 

Schaibar  as  he  came  forward,  looked  at  the  Prince 


The   Magic    Pavilion  245 

with  an  eye  that  was  intended  to  chill  his  soul  and  body, 
and  asked  Periebanou,  when  he  first  accosted  her,  "Who 
is  that  man?"  "He  is  my  beloved  husband,"  answered 
she,  "his  name  is  Ahmed.  He  is  the  son  of  the  Sultan 
of  India.  On  his  account  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of 
calling  thee."  At  these  words  Schaibar,  looking  at 
Prince  Ahmed  with  a  favourable  eye,  said:  "Is  there 
anything,  O  my  sister,  wherein  I  can  serve  him?  He 
hath  only  to  speak.  It  is  enough  for  me  that  he  is  thy 
husband,  to  make  me  do  anything  he  desireth." 

"The  Sultan  his  father,"  answered  Periebanou,  "hath 
a  curiosity  to  see  thee,  and  I  desire  that  Prince  Ahmed 
may  be  thy  guide  to  the  Sultan's  court."  "He  needeth 
but  lead  the  way,  and  I  will  follow  him,"  replied  Schai- 
bar. "It  is  too  late  to  go  to-day,"  said  the  Fairy,  "and 
as  it  is  fitting  that  thou  shouldst  know  all  that  has 
passed  between  the  Sultan  of  India  and  Prince  Ahmed 
since  our  marriage,  I  will  relate  it  to  thee  this  evening." 

When  the  morning  arrived,  Schaibar,  who  had  been 
informed  of  all  that  had  happened,  set  out  with  Prince 
Ahmed,  who  was  to  present  him  to  the  Sultan.  They 
arrived  at  the  gates  of  the  capital,  and  the  people,  as 
soon  as  they  saw  Schaibar,  ran  and  hid  themselves  in 
their  shops  and  houses,  so  that  Schaibar  and  Prince 
Ahmed  found  the  streets  deserted  until  they  came  to 
the  palace,  where  the  doorkeepers,  instead  of  prevent- 
ing Schaibar  from  entering,  ran  away  too.  The  Prince 
and  he  advanced  without  any  interference  to  the 
judgment-hall,  where  the  Sultan  was  seated  upon  his 
throne,  giving  audience  to  his  people.  Here  likewise 
the  officers  at  the  approach  of  Schaibar,  abandoned 
their  posts,  and  did  not  prevent  his  entrance. 

Schaibar,  carrying  his  head  erect,  went  fiercely  up  to 


246       Story   of  Prince  Ahmed 

the  throne,  and,  without  waiting  to  be  presented  by 
Prince  Ahmed,  demanded  in  a  terrible  voice:  "Thou 
hast  asked  for  me,  what  wouldst  thou  have?"  The 
Sultan  instead  of  answering,  clapped  his  hands  over 
his  eyes  and  turned  away  his  head  to  avoid  the  sight  of 
so  terrible  an  object.  Schaibar  was  so  provoked  at  this 
rude  reception,  after  he  had  taken  the  trouble  to  come 
such  a  distance,  that  he  instantly  lifted  up  the  iron  bar, 
saying:  "Speak!"  and  then  he  let  it  fall  on  the  Sultan's 
head  and  killed  him  before  Prince  Ahmed  could  inter- 
cede in  his  behalf.  All  the  Prince  could  do  was  to 
prevent  his  killing  the  Vizier,  who  sat  near  the  throne, 
by  informing  Schaibar  that  he  had  always  given  his 
father  good  advice.  "These  are  they,  then,  who  made 
him  bad,"  said  Schaibar,  and  as  he  pronounced  these 
words,  he  killed  all  the  flatterers  and  favourites  of  the 
Sultan,  who  were  Prince  Ahmed's  enemies.  Every 
time  he  let  fall  his  bar  he  crushed  some  one,  and  none 
escaped  but  those  who  saved  themselves  by  flight. 

When  this  terrible  execution  was  over,  Schaibar  came 
out  of  the  judgment-hall  into  the  courtyard,  with  the 
iron  bar  upon  his  shoulder,  and,  looking  at  the  Vizier 
who  owed  his  life  to  Prince  Ahmed,  said:  "I  know  there 
is  here  a  certain  sorceress,  who  is  a  great  enemy  of  the 
Prince.  Let  her  be  brought  to  me  immediately."  The 
Vizier  instantly  sent  for  her,  and  as  soon  as  she  was 
brought  in,  Schaibar  knocked  her  down  with  his  iron 
bar,  saying:  "Take  the  reward  of  thy  pernicious  coun- 
sel, and  learn  to  feign  sickness  again!"  and  he  left  her 
dead  on  the  spot. 

After  this  he  said:  "This  is  not  yet  enough.  I  will 
treat  the  whole  city  in  the  same  manner,  if  they  do  not 
immediately  acknowledge  Prince  Ahmed  as  Sultan  of 


The   Magic   Pavilion  247 

India."  Then  all  present  made  the  air  ring  with 
the  repeated  acclamations  of  "Long  live  the  Sultan 
Ahmed,"  and  immediately  he  was  proclaimed  through- 
out the  whole  city.  Schaibar  caused  him  to  be  clothed 
in  royal  vestments,  and  installed  him  upon  the  throne, 
and  made  all  swear  homage  and  fidelity.  He  then  re- 
turned to  his  sister,  the  Fairy  Periebanou,  whom  he 
brought  with  great  pomp,  and  made  her  Sultana  of 
India. 

As  for  Prince  AH  and  Nouronnihar,  since  they  had 
no  part  in  the  conspiracy,  Prince  Ahmed  assigned  them 
a  large  province  with  its  capital,  where  they  spent  the 
remainder  of  their  lives,  Afterward  he  sent  an  officer 
to  Houssain,  to  acquaint  him  with  all  that  had  hap- 
pened, and  to  offer  him  any  province  he  might  choose  to 
govern;  but  Prince  Houssain  thought  himself  happy 
in  his  solitude,  and  desired  the  officer  to  return  his 
thanks  to  his  brother  Ahmed,  assuring  him  of  his  sub- 
mission, but  saying  that  his  only  desire  was  to  be  al- 
lowed to  live  his  life  in  the  place  which  he  had  chosen. 

As  for  Prince  Ahmed  and  the  Fairy  Periebanou  they 
continued  to  dwell  together  in  the  utmost  joy  and  hap- 
piness, until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of 
delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. 


Chapter  IX 

?>•••• 

STORY  OF  THE  PRINCESS  PERIEZADE 

AND  THE  SPEAKING  BIRD,  THE 

SINGING  TREE,  AND  THE 

GOLDEN  WATER 

THE  THREE  WISHES 

^  ^HERE  was  a  Sultan  of  Persia  named  Khosrou- 
4>  J  shah  who  took  great  delight  in  adventures.  He 
often  walked  in  disguise  through  the  city,  and 
met  with  many  astonishing  experiences.  It 
happened  one  night  that  he  clad  himself  in  the 
robe  of  a  merchant,  and  attended  by  his  Vizier, 
went  forth  from  his  palace,  seeking  an  adventure.  As 
he  passed  through  a  poor  street  he  heard  loud  talking, 
and  approaching  the  house  whence  the  sounds  came, 
he  saw  through  the  open  door  three  sisters  seated  upon 
a  couch,  conversing  together. 

"I  wish,"  said  the  eldest  sister,  "that  I  might  marry 
the  Sultan's  chief  baker,  for  then  I  should  have  all  the 
white  bread  I  desired.  And,  now,  O  my  sisters,  let  me 
see  if  your  tastes  are  as  good  as  mine."  "For  my  part," 
replied  the  second  sister,  "I  wish  I  were  wife  to  the 
Sultan's  chief  cook,  for  then  I  should  always  eat  the 
most  delicious  food;  therefore  thou  seest,  O  my  sister, 
that  my  taste  is  better  than  thine."  The  youngest 

248 


The   Three   Wishes  249 

sister,  who  was  very  beautiful  and  had  more  charms  and 
wit  than  the  two  elder,  spoke  in  her  turn.     "I  wish, 

0  my  sisters,"  said  she,  "that  I  might  be  the  Sultan's 
consort.    I  would  make  him  the  father  of  a  prince  whose 
hair  should  be  gold  on  one  side  of  his  head,  and  silver 
on  the  other.    When  he  cried  his  tears  should  be  pearls, 
and  when  he  smiled  his  vermilion  lips  should  look  like 
a  rose-bud  fresh  blown."   The  Sultan  having  overheard 
their  wishes,  immediately  told  his  Vizier  to  take  notice 
of  the  house,  and  bring  the  three  sisters  before  him  on 
the  following  day. 

The  morning  having  arrived,  the  Vizier  preceeded 
to  the  house  of  the  damsels,  and  summoned  them  to 
appear  before  the  Sultan.  He  conducted  them  to  the 
palace,  and  presented  them  to  the  Sultan,  who  said :  "Do 
ye  remember  the  wishes  ye  expressed  last  night,  when 
ye  were  all  in  so  pleasant  a  mood?  Speak  the  truth." 

On  hearing  these  words,  the  sisters  were  confounded. 
They  cast  down  their  eyes,  and  blushed  with  confusion, 
and  the  colour  that  rose  in  the  cheeks  of  the  youngest 
captivated  the  heart  of  the  Sultan.  He,  perceiving  their 
confusion  and  fear,  said  to  them:  "Do  not  be  alarmed. 

1  know  your  wishes,  and  will  relieve  you  from  your 
fears.    As  for  the  damsel  who  desired  to  become  my 
wife,  she  shall  have  her  wish  this  day,  and  these  her  two 
elder  sisters  shall  be  married  to  my  chief  baker  and 
chief  cook."     As  soon  as  the  Sultan  had  said  these 
words,  he  gave  orders  that  the  marriages  should  be 
celebrated  immediately.     As  for  the  youngest  sister, 
he  caused  her  to  be  clad  in  magnificent  garments,  com- 
manded the  city  to  be  decorated,  and  the  drums  to  be 
beaten,  and  a  great  feast  to  be  held.    He  then  performed 
the  contract  of  his  marriage  to  her  with  all  pomp  and 


250       The   Princess   Periezade 

ceremony.  As  for  the  two  elder  sisters  he  gave  them 
in  marriage  to  his  chief  baker  and  chief  cook,  and  con- 
ducted the  marriages  in  accordance  with  their  humble 
stations  in  life. 

The  elder  sisters,  when  they  beheld  the  grandeur  of 
their  younger  sister's  marriage  feast,  were  filled  with 
excessive  jealousy.  They  continued  to  give  themselves 
up  to  this  evil  passion,  until  at  last  they  decided  to  re- 
venge themselves  by  injuring  the  Sultana.  In  the  mean- 
time they  pretended  to  rejoice  at  her  good  fortune,  and 
visited  her  continually,  showing  her  every  mark  of  af- 
fection. The  Sultana  received  them  with  esteem  and 
love,  and  bestowed  favours  upon  them.  So  matters 
continued  for  some  months,  when  the  Sultan  went  forth 
to  hunt.  And  while  he  was  absent  from  the  palace, 
there  was  born  to  the  Sultana  a  young  Prince,  as  beauti- 
ful as  the  full  moon.  The  wicked  sisters  wrapped  him 
in  some  clothes,  and  put  him  in  a  basket  which  they 
secretly  carried  to  a  stream  that  ran  through  the  royal 
park,  and  they  placed  the  basket  in  the  water,  and  left 
it.  They  then  returned  to  the  palace  and  laid  a  little 
dog  in  his  cradle.  When  the  Sultan  came  from  the 
hunt,  the  two  wicked  sisters  told  him  that  instead  of  a 
son,  there  had  been  born  the  little  dog  which  they 
showed  to  him.  Hearing  this  the  Sultan  was  filled  with 
rage  and  would  have  ordered  the  Sultana  to  be  executed 
if  his  Vizier  had  not  persuaded  him  to  permit  her  to  live. 

As  for  the  little  Prince,  the  basket  which  he  was  in 
was  carried  down  the  stream,  and,  as  Destiny  would 
have  it,  the  chief  gardener  of  the  royal  gardens  was 
walking  by  the  side  of  the  stream  and  perceived  the 
basket  floating  past.  He  drew  it  to  land,  and  on  open- 
ing it  was  astonished  to  see  in  it  a  beautiful  new-born 


The   Three  Wishes  251 

ild.  As  the  gardener  had  no  children,  he  rejoiced 
xceedingly  and  carried  the  young  Prince  to  his  wife, 
saying:  "Behold  the  little  one  that  Allah  hath  sent  us! 
Nurse  him  as  though  he  were  our  own;  and  from  now 
on  I  will  call  him  my  son."  The  wife  received  the  child 
with  great  joy,  and  cared  for  him  with  tenderness. 

The  following  year,  when  the  Sultan  was  again  ab- 
sent at  the  hunt,  there  was  born  to  the  Sultana  another 
beautiful  Prince.  As  soon  as  the  wicked  sisters  beheld 
him,  they  placed  him  in  a  basket,  and  set  him  adrift 
upon  the  stream,  and  put  in  his  cradle  a  yellow  cat. 
When  the  Sultan  returned  and  saw  the  cat,  he  would 
have  executed  his  wife  immediately  if  the  Vizier's  re- 
monstrances had  not  prevailed.  As  before  the  gardener 
was  walking  by  the  stream,  and  finding  the  Little  Prince 
took  him  to  his  wife,  and  charged  her  to  take  care  of 
him  as  if  he  were  their  son. 

Now  some  months  after  this  there  was  born  to  the 
Sultana  a  lovely  Princess  whom  the  wicked  sisters  set 
adrift  upon  the  water,  and  whom  the  gardener  rescued 
as  he  had  her  two  brothers.  This  time  the  evil  women 
placed  a  mouse  in  the  cradle,  and  when  the  Sultan  saw 
it,  he  was  so  enraged  that  he  caused  the  Sultana  to  be 
imprisoned  in  a  wooden  cage,  and  hung  on  the  wall  of 
the  palace,  where  she  would  be  exposed  to  the  insults  and 
contempt  of  the  populace.  She  bore  the  punishment 
which  she  did  not  deserve  with  such  a  patient  resigna- 
tion that  she  aroused  the  compassion  of  all  observers. 

As  for  the  two  Princes  and  the  Princess,  they  were 
cared  for  tenderly  by  the  gardener  and  his  wife,  and  as 
they  grew  older  they  showed  marks  of  superior  dignity 
which  distinguished  them  from  common  children. 
The  eldest  Prince  was  called  Bahman;  the  second, 


252       The   Princess   Periezade 

Perviz;  and  the  Princess,  Periezade.  The  gardener, 
perceiving  that  they  were  remarkable  children,  pro- 
vided instructors  for  them,  and  caused  them  to  be 
taught  the  arts  and  sciences  and  polite  literature. 
The  Princes  became  accomplished  horsemen;  and  the 
Princess  received  lessons  in  music,  and  learned  to  sing 
and  play  upon  all  sorts  of  instruments.  The  brothers 
and  sister  made  such  wonderful  progress  that  their 
instructors  were  amazed,  and  soon  confessed  they 
could  teach  them  no  more.  The  gardener  was  so  de- 
lighted to  find  his  adopted  children  accomplished  and 
perfect  in  body  and  mind,  that  he  resolved  to  do  still 
more  for  them.  As  he  had  considerable  wealth,  he 
built  for  them  a  magnificent  house,  situated  in  a  large 
park,  and  he  spared  no  expense  in  furnishing  the  man- 
sion and  beautifying  the  park.  His  wife  dying,  he 
retired  with  his  children  to  this  fine  residence,  and  con- 
tinued to  live  there  in  joy  and  happiness  for  some  time. 
When  the  two  Princes  reached  the  age  of  manhood,  the 
gardener  suddenly  became  ill,  and  died,  leaving  all  his 
possessions  to  the  two  Princes  and  the  Princess  Perie- 
zade. They  mourned  his  loss  as  a  tender  father,  and 
conducted  his  funeral  with  all  honour,  after  which  they 
continued  to  live  together  in  the  mansion,  satisfied 
with  their  fortune,  and  free  from  the  ambition  of  min- 
gling with  the  great. 

It  happened  one  day  that  the  two  Princes  went  out 
to  hunt,  and  the  Princess  remained  at  home.  Scarcely 
had  the  brothers  left,  when  an  old  woman  knocked  at 
the  door  of  the  mansion,  and  requested  that  she  might 
be  permitted  to  say  her  prayers  in  a  little  chapel  that 
adjoined  the  house.  The  slaves  thereupon  asked  per- 
mission of  the  Princess,  and  she  bade  them  conduct 


The   Three   Wishes  253 

the  old  woman  to  the  chapel,  and  afterward  to  show 
her  the  house  and  gardens,  and  then  to  bring  her  into 
the  great  hall.  The  slaves  did  as  they  were  commanded, 
and  after  the  old  woman  had  said  her  prayers,  they 
conducted  her  through  the  garden,  and  showed  her  the 
mansion,  and  then  presented  her  to  the  Princess. 

The  old  woman  was  astonished  by  the  magnificence 
of  the  furniture  and  the  decorations  of  the  mansion, 
but  when  she  beheld  the  beautiful  Princess  Periezade 
seated  upon  an  ivory  couch  overlaid  with  red  gold,  she 
was  filled  with  wonder,  and  falling  down  kissed  the 
ground  before  her.  The  Princess,  however,  raised  her, 
and  placed  her  upon  the  couch,  commanding  her  slaves 
to  serve  a  repast.  They  did  so  immediately,  and  set 
before  the  old  woman  a  low  table  of  mother-of-pearl 
and  ebony  upon  which  was  a  China  dish  full  of  delicate 
pastry,  and  other  dishes  containing  delicious  fruits  and 
confections.  "Eat,  O  my  mother,"  said  the  Princess, 
"for  thou  must  be  hungry  after  coming  so  far."  "O 
my  mistress,"  replied  the  old  woman,  "I  will  not  refuse 
what  Allah  hath  sent  me  by  thy  generous  hand!" 
And  she  ate  and  refreshed  herself.  After  which  the 
Princess  asked  her  how  she  liked  the  mansion. 

"O  my  mistress,"  answered  the  old  woman,  "verily 
it  is  beautiful.  Its  situation  is  most  agreeable,  and  no 
garden  could  be  more  delightful;  but  if  thou  wilt  per- 
mit me  to  speak  truly,  there  are  still  wanting  three 
things  to  complete  thy  mansion."  "O  my  mother," 
said  the  Princess  Periezade,  "what  are  the  three  things? 
I  conjure  thee  to  tell  me  what  they  are,  for  I  will 
spare  nothing  to  get  them."  "The  first  of  these  three 
things,"  replied  the  old  woman,  "is  the  Speaking  Bird, 
which  is  so  wonderful  a  creature  that  it  draweth  round 


254       The   Princess    Periezade 

it  all  the  singing  birds  of  the  neighbourhood.  The 
second  is  the  Singing  Tree,  the  leaves  of  which  are  so 
many  mouths,  which  sing  in  a  thousand  different  voices, 
and  never  cease.  The  third  is  the  Golden  Water;  a 
single  drop  of  which  being  poured  into  a  fountain  in- 
creaseth  so  that  it  filleth  immediately  the  basin  of  the 
fountain  and  rising  in  the  middle  to  a  great  height, 
continually  playeth,  but  never  overfloweth." 

"O  my  mother!"  cried  the  Princess,  "I  am  grateful 
to  thee  for  the  knowledge  of  these  rarities.  They  are 
surprising  and  wonderful!  Tell  me  then  where  they 
may  be  found."  "I  should  be  unworthy  of  thy  hos- 
pitality," answered  the  old  woman,  "if  I  refused  to 
satisfy  thy  curiosity.  Know  that  these  rarities  are  to 
be  found  on  the  confines  of  the  Kingdom  of  India. 
The  road  to  this  spot  passeth  before  thy  door,  and  who- 
soever f olloweth  the  road  for  twenty  days  and  asketh  the 
first  person  whom  he  meeteth  where  the  Speaking  Bird, 
and  the  Singing  Tree,  and  the  Golden  Water  may  be 
found,  he  will  be  informed."  After  saying  this  the  old 
woman  arose  from  her  seat,  saluted  the  Princess,  and 
departed. 

THE  MOUNTAIN  OF  THE  BLACK  STONES 

A     4  HEN  the  two  brothers  returned  from  the  hunt, 

1 4*1     ^ey  entered  the  great  hall,  and  finding  the 

I  •    I     Princess  Periezade  sad  and  pensive,  they  were 

I  I  J     amazed  to  see  her  thus,  and  asked  her  what 

I  S  :|     had  occurred  during  their  absence.     "O  my 

MM    brothers,"  replied  the  Princess,  "I  am  greatly 

distressed  in  my  mind !     Ye  think, — and  I  have  always 

thought, — that  this  mansion  is  so  complete  that  nothing 


The   Mountain   of  Black   Stones    255 

is  wanting;  but  this  day  I  have  learned  that  it  wanteth 
three  rarities,  which  would  render  it  more  perfect  than 
any  other  mansion  in  the  world.  These  three  things 
are  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  Singing  Tree,  and  the  Golden 
Water."  Thereupon  the  Princess  informed  them  of 
all  that  had  taken  place  while  they  were  gone,  adding 
that  she  would  never  be  completely  happy  while  their 
mansion  was  imperfect. 

"O  my  sister,"  said  Prince  Bahman,  "nothing  can 
concern  thee  in  which  we  have  not  an  equal  interest. 
It  is  enough  that  thou  hast  an  earnest  desire  for  these 
three  rarities;  therefore  I  will  undertake  to  procure 
them  for  thee.  Only  tell  me  the  place  and  the  way  to 
it,  and  I  will  go  to-morrow."  "O  my  brother,"  said 
Prince  Perviz,  "thou  art  the  eldest  and  the  head  of 
our  family,  therefore  permit  me  to  undertake  this  ad- 
venture and  do  thou  stay  at  home  and  guard  our  sister." 
"Nay,"  answered  Prince  Bahman,  "I  have  resolved 
to  go  on  this  journey  and  procure  the  rarities,  and  am 
persuaded  that  I  shall  succeed.  Do  thou  stay  at  home 
with  our  sister  and  care  for  the  mansion."  After  this 
Prince  Bahman  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day  making 
preparations  for  the  journey. 

When  the  morning  arrived,  Prince  Bahman  mounted 
his  horse,  and  pulling  a  knife  from  his  belt,  presented 
it  to  the  Princess  saying:  "Take  this  knife,  O  my  sister, 
and  look  at  it  every  day.  While  thou  seest  it  bright  as 
it  is  now,  know  that  I  am  alive;  but  should  thou  see  it 
stained  with  blood,  then  believe  me  dead."  After  say- 
ing this  he  bade  farewell  to  the  Princess  and  his  brother, 
and  rode  away. 

The  Prince  proceeded  upon  his  journey,  turning 
neither  to  the  right  hand  nor  to  the  left,  and  he  pursued 


256       The    Princess    Periezade 

his  way  for  twenty  days.  When  the  twentieth  day 
arrived,  he  perceived  on  the  side  of  the  road,  a  hideous 
old  man  who  sat  under  a  tree.  His  eyebrows  were 
white  as  snow,  and  his  hair  and  beard  were  also  white 
and  hung  down  to  his  feet.  The  nails  on  his  fingers 
and  toes  were  grown  long  like  the  claws  of  a  beast,  and 
he  wore  no  clothes,  only  a  mat  was  thrown  round  his 
body,  and  a  flat  broad  umbrella  was  over  his  head. 
Prince  Bahman  immediately  dismounted  and  advanced 
toward  him,  and  saluted  him.  The  old  man  endeav- 
oured to  return  the  salutation,  but  could  not  do  so  since 
his  beard  had  grown  over  his  mouth.  The  Prince,  per- 
ceiving this,  took  his  sword  and  cut  away  the  beard. 
At  this  the  old  man  smiled,  and  said:  "O  my  master, 
I  am  grateful  to  thee  for  this  kind  service,  therefore 
ask  what  thou  wilt  and  if  possible  I  will  do  it  for  thee." 
Hearing  this  Prince  Bahman  rejoiced,  and  said: 
"Know,  O  my  father,  that  I  am  in  search  of  the  Speak- 
ing Bird,  the  Singing  Tree,  and  the  Golden  Water. 
I  am  assured  that  they  are  not  far  from  here;  but  I 
cannot  tell  exactly  in  what  place  they  may  be  found. 
Therefore  I  conjure  thee  to  show  me  the  road  thither." 
At  hearing  this,  the  old  man  changed  countenance, 
and  hung  down  his  head  toward  the  ground,  and  re- 
mained silent.  "O  my  father,"  said  the  Prince,  "dost 
thou  not  hear  me?  Tell  me  whether  thou  knowest 
where  the  rarities  are,  so  that  I  may  go  on  my  way." 
At  last  the  old  man  raised  his  head,  and  said:  "Know, 
O  my  son,  that  the  way  thither  is  beset  with  great 
dangers.  A  number  of  Princes  of  bravery  and  courage 
have  gone  thither  and  have  never  returned.  There- 
fore if  thou  have  any  regard  for  thy  life,  take  my  advice, 
and  hasten  to  thy  home."  "I  am  resolved  to  procure 


The   Mountain   of  Black   Stones    257 

ie  three  rarities,"  replied  Prince  Bahman,  "and  I  am 
fell  armed  and  as  brave  as  any  one,  therefore  I  will 
not  turn  back."  "But  they  who  will  attack  thee," 
said  the  old  man,  "are  invisible  persons,  against  whom 
thou  canst  not  defend  thyself."  "It  mattereth  not," 
replied  the  Prince;  "all  thou  sayest  shall  not  persuade 
*me  to  give  up  my  quest.  Since  thou  knowest  the  way, 
I  conjure  thee  once  more  to  inform  me  of  it." 

Then  the  old  man,  seeing  that  he  could  not  prevail 
upon  Prince  Bahman  to  abandon  his  journey,  put  his 
hand  into  a  bag  that  lay  before  him,  and  pulled  out  a 
bowl  which  he  presented  to  the  Prince,  saying:  "Take 
this,  mount  thy  horse,  and  throw  the  bowl  before  thee, 
and  follow  it  to  the  foot  of  a  mountain  where  it  will 
stop.  Then  alight  from  thy  horse,  throw  the  bridle 
over  his  neck  and  he  will  stand  in  the  same  place  until 
thou  returnest.  Ascend  the  mountain.  Thou  wilt  see 
on  thy  right  hand  and  left  a  great  number  of  black 
stones,  and  will  hear  on  all  sides  a  confusion  of  voices 
which  will  utter  a  thousand  abusive  words  to  discourage 
thee,  and  prevent  thee  from  reaching  the  summit  of  the 
mountain.  Be  not  afraid;  but  above  all  things  do  not 
turn  thy  head  to  look  behind  thee.  For  in  the  minute 
thou  turnest  thy  head  thou  wilt  be  changed  into  a  black 
stone  like  those  about  thee;  all  of  which  stones  were 
formerly  the  Princes  who  failed  in  this  enterprise.  If 
thou  escape  this  danger  and  get  to  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain, thou  wilt  see  a  cage  in  which  is  the  Speaking  Bird. 
Ask  him  where  are  the  Singing  Tree  and  the  Golden 
Water  and  he  will  tell  thee.  But  if  thou  art  prudent, 
now  before  it  is  too  late  thou  wilt  return  home,  and 
not  thus  expose  thy  life." 

Prince  Bahman,  hearing  these  words,  thanked  the 


258       The   Princess    Periezade 

old  man,  and,  mounting  his  horse,  took  the  bowl  and 
threw  it  before  him.  The  bowl  rolled  swiftly  away, 
and  ceased  not  to  roll  on,  the  Prince  following  it  until 
it  reached  the  foot  of  a  mountain  lofty  and  great.  The 
Prince  alighted  from  his  horse,  laid  the  bridle  upon  its 
neck,  and  began  to  ascend  the  mountain  which  was 
covered  on  all  sides  with  black  stones.  Instantly  he 
heard  voices  calling  and  shouting.  Some  said:  "Where 
is  the  fool  going?  What  would  he  have?  Do  not  let 
him  pass."  Others  cried  out:  "Stop  him!  Stop  him! 
Catch  him!  Kill  him!"  And  still  others  called  with 
a  voice  like  thunder:  "Thief!  Assassin!  Murderer!" 
While  some  in  a  gibing  tone  cried  out:  "No,  no!  Do 
not  hurt  him !  Let  the  pretty  fellow  pass,  the  cage  and 
the  bird  are  kept  for  him!" 

Notwithstanding  all  these  cries,  Prince  Bahman  con- 
tinued to  ascend  with  courage  and  resolution  for  some 
time;  but  the  voices  grew  louder  and  louder,  and  made 
such  a  din  near  him,  behind  him,  and  before,  that  at 
last  he  was  seized  with  dread,  his  legs  trembled  be- 
neath him,  he  staggered,  and  finding  his  strength  fail- 
ing, he  forgot  the  old  man's  advice,  and  turned  around 
to  run  down  the  mountain.  In  an  instant  he  was 
changed  into  a  black  stone,  and  his  horse  likewise 
underwent  the  same  transformation.  Thus  it  happened 
to  Prince  Bahman. 

As  for  the  Princess  Periezade,  she  always  wore  the 
knife  the  Prince  had  given  her  in  her  girdle,  and  she 
pulled  it  forth  several  times  a  day  to  see  whether  her 
brother  were  alive  or  dead.  On  the  day  that  Prince 
Bahman  was  transformed  into  a  black  stone,  as  Prince 
Perviz  and  the  Princess  were  talking  together,  she  drew 
forth  the  knife  and  examined  it,  and,  lo,  the  blood  was 


The   Mountain   of  Black   Stones    259 

running  down  its  point.  Seeing  this  the  Princess  was 
filled  with  horror  and  grief,  and  threw  the  knife  down. 
"O  my  brother,"  cried  she,  "I  have  been  the  cause  of 
thy  death,  and  shall  never  see  thee  more!  Why  did  I 
tell  thee  of  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  Singing  Tree,  and 
the  Golden  Water,  and  what  is  it  to  me  whether  our 
mansion  be  complete  or  not ! " 

Prince  Perviz  was  as  much  afflicted  at  the  death  of 
Prince  Bahman  as  was  the  Princess,  but  knowing  that 
she  still  passionately  desired  to  possess  the  three 
rarities,  he  interrupted  her,  saying:  "O  my  sister,  our 
regret  for  our  brother  is  vain  and  useless;  our  lamenta- 
tions and  grief  cannot  restore  him  to  life.  Let  us  be- 
lieve that  his  death  was  caused  by  some  error  on  his 
part,  or  by  an  accident.  As  for  me,  I  have  resolved  to 
obtain  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  Singing  Tree  and  the 
Golden  Water,  and  nothing  can  alter  my  resolution. 
To-morrow  I  will  depart."  Hearing  this  the  Princess 
did  all  she  could  to  dissuade  Prince  Perviz  from  making 
the  attempt,  but  her  remonstrances  had  no  effect  upon 
him.  Before  he  departed,  he  presented  her  with  a 
string  of  a  hundred  pearls,  bidding  her  count  them  each 
day,  saying  that  if  at  any  time  they  remained  fixed, 
it  would  be  a  certain  sign  that  he  had  undergone  the 
fate  of  his  brother. 

Prince  Perviz  on  the  twentieth  day  after  his  depart- 
ure, met  the  same  old  man  in  the  same  place  in  which 
his  brother  Bahman  had  met  him.  He  advanced 
toward  him,  and,  saluting  him,  asked  if  he  could  tell 
where  to  find  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  Singing  Tree, 
and  the  Golden  Water.  The  old  man  told  him  of  the 
many  dangers  that  would  beset  him  on  this  adventure, 
and  said  that  a  young  man,  who  very  much  resembled 


260       The   Princess   Periezade 

Prince  Perviz,  had  lately  passed  that  way;  and,  as  he 
had  not  returned,  had  in  all  probability  shared  the 
fate  of  the  other  Princes  and  been  turned  into  a  black 
stone. 

"O  my  master,"  replied  Prince  Perviz,  "I  know  of 
whom  thou  speakest.  He  was  my  elder  brother;  and 
I  know  certainly  that  he  is  dead,  though  I  know  not  the 
cause.  I  am  now  resolved  to  procure  the  three  rarities, 
and  therefore  I  beg  of  thee  that  thou  wilt  show  me  the 
way."  "Since  I  cannot  prevail  upon  thee  to  give  up 
this  enterprise,"  replied  the  old  man,  "I  will  do  what  I 
can  to  aid  thee."  He  then  presented  Prince  Perviz 
with  the  magic  bowl,  and  gave  him  the  same  directions 
he  had  given  Prince  Bahman.  The  Prince  thanked  the 
old  man,  and  then  throwing  the  bowl  before  his  horse, 
followed  it. 

When  the  bowl  came  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  it 
stopped.  The  Prince  alighted,  and  began  to  ascend, 
but  before  he  had  gone  six  steps,  he  heard  a  voice  be- 
hind him,  which  seemed  to  be  near,  say  in  an  insulting 
tone:  "Stay,  rash  youth,  that  I  may  punish  thee  for 
thy  presumption."  Hearing  this  the  Prince,  forgetting 
the  old  man's  advice,  drew  his  sword  and  turned  about 
to  revenge  himself,  and  instantly  he  and  his  horse 
were  changed  into  black  stones. 

In  the  meantime  the  Princess  Periezade  counted 
the  pearls  every  night,  and  when  she  went  to  bed  she 
put  the  string  about  her  neck,  and  the  first  thing  in  the 
morning  she  counted  over  the  pearls  to  see  if  they 
would  slide.  The  day  that  the  Prince  was  transformed 
into  a  black  stone,  she  was  counting  them  over  as  usual, 
when  all  at  once  they  became  immovable,  and  she  knew 
that  Prince  Perviz  was  dead. 


The   Mountain  of  Black  Stones    261 

She  lost  no  time  in  vain  grief,  but  disguising  herself 
in  man's  apparel,  she  armed  and  set  out  immediately, 
taking  the  same  road  that  her  brothers  had  followed. 
On  the  twentieth  day  she  saw  the  old  man  sitting  be- 
side the  road,  and,  alighting  from  her  horse,  went  and 
sat  down  beside  him,  saying:  "O  my  master,  permit  me 
to  rest  myself,  and  do  me  the  favour  to  tell  me  where 
in  this  neighbourhood  may  be  found  a  Speaking  Bird, 
a  Singing  Tree,  and  some  Golden  Water."  "O  my 
Princess,"  replied  the  old  man,  "for  so  I  must  call  thee, 
for  I  perceive  thee  to  be  a  princess  in  disguise,  I  know 
the  place  well  where  these  rarities  may  be  found,  but 
the  enterprise  is  troublesome  and  dangerous.  Take 
my  advice,  go  no  farther,  return,  and  do  not  urge  me 
to  tell  thee  what  will  prove  thy  destruction."  "O  my 
good  father,"  said  the  Princess,  "I  have  travelled  a 
great  way,  and  should  be  sorry  to  return  without  pro- 
curing these  wonders.  Tell  me  what  these  difficulties 
and  dangers  are,  then  I  may  judge  whether  I  am  cour- 
ageous enough  to  brave  them." 

The  old  man,  thereupon,  repeated  to  the  Princess  all 
that  he  had  said  to  the  Princes  Bahman  and  Perviz. 
He  then  entreated  her  to  give  up  the  enterprise  and 
return  to  her  home.  But  she  replied:  "I  understand 
that  the  greatest  difficulty  is  getting  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain  without  being  frightened  at  the  terrible  din 
of  voices  I  shall  hear.  I  own  that  I  am  terrified  at  the 
thought  of  the  voices,  but  I  intend  to  stop  my  ears  with 
cotton,  that  no  matter  how  awful  and  loud  the  sounds 
may  be  I  shall  not  hear  them."  "O  my  Princess,"  said 
the  old  man,  "of  all  the  persons  who  have  asked  of  me 
their  way,  thou  art  the  only  one  who  hath  ever  made 
use  of  this  device.  They  have  all  perished;  but  if  thou 


262        The    Princess   Periezade 

persist  in  thy  design,  it  may  be  that  thou  wilt  succeed. 
Nevertheless,  I  advise  thee  not  to  expose  thyself  to 
this  danger." 

The  Princess,  however,  being  resolved  to  pursue  her 
quest,  the  old  man  presented  her  with  the  bowl;  then 
thanking  him,  she  mounted  her  horse,  threw  the  bowl 
before  her,  and  rode  away.  She  followed  it  till  it 
stopped  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  where  she  alighted. 
She  filled  her  ears  with  cotton,  and  began  to  ascend. 
She  heard  the  voices  somewhat,  and  the  higher  she  went 
the  louder  and  more  numerous  the  voices  seemed, 
but  they  were  not  loud  enough  to  terrify  her.  She 
laughed  and  continued  to  climb  upward.  At  last  she 
got  so  high  that  she  could  perceive  the  cage  and  the 
Speaking  Bird.  The  minute  the  latter  saw  her  he 
cried  out  in  thundering  tones:  "Retire,  fool,  and  ap- 
proach no  nearer!"  The  Princess,  however,  redoubled 
her  speed  and  gained  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
which  was  level.  Then  running  directly  to  the  cage, 
she  laid  her  hand  upon  it  and  cried  out:  "Bird,  I  have 
thee,  and  thou  shalt  not  escape  me!"  She  then  pulled 
the  cotton  out  of  her  ears. 

"O  heroic  Princess,"  said  the  Bird  in  gentle  tones, 
"be  not  angry  with  me  for  speaking  to  thee  so  rudely! 
I  have  lived  a  most  agreeable  life  on  this  mountain- 
top,  and  do  not  wish  to  be  the  slave  of  any  one.  Since, 
however,  a  slave  I  must  be,  I  would  rather  belong  to 
thee  than  to  any  other  Princess.  From  this  moment  I 
swear  fidelity  to  thee  and  entire  submission  to  thy 
commands.  I  know  who  thou  art.  Thou  dost  not. 
The  time  will  come  when  I  shall  do  thee  a  great  service. 
Tell  me,  now,  what  thou  desirest  and  I  am  ready  to 
obey  thee."  Hearing  this  the  Princess  was  filled  with 


•BIRD,"  SAID  THE  PRINCESS  PERIEZADE,  "THOU  ART  MY  SLAVE!" 


The   Mountain   of  Black   Stones    263 

joy.  "Bird,"  said  she,  "I  have  been  told  that  there  is 
not  far  off  a  Golden  Water,  the  property  of  which  is 
very  wonderful.  Before  all  things  I  ask  thee  to  tell 
me  where  it  is." 

The  Speaking  Bird  showed  her  the  place,  which  was 
near  by,  and  she  went  and  filled  a  silver  flagon  which 
she  had  brought  with  her.  She  returned  to  the  Bird, 
and  said:  "This  is  not  enough.  I  want  also  the  Singing 
Tree.  Tell  me  where  it  is."  "Turn  about,"  said  the 
Speaking  Bird,  "and  thou  wilt  see  behind  thee  a  wood, 
where  thou  wilt  find  the  Singing  Tree.  Break  off  a 
branch,  and  carry  it  home  to  plant  in  thy  garden. 
It  will  take  root  as  soon  as  it  is  put  into  the  earth;  and 
in  a  short  time  will  grow  into  a  fine  large  tree."  The 
Princess  went  immediately  into  the  wood,  and  follow- 
ing the  sounds  of  sweet  and  harmonious  voices,  soon 
found  the  Tree.  She  broke  off  a  branch  and  returned 
to  the  Speaking  Bird.  "Bird,"  said  she,  "what  thou 
hast  done  for  me  is  not  sufficient.  Thou  hast  been  the 
cause  of  the  death  of  my  two  brothers,  who  must  be 
among  the  black  stones  that  I  saw  while  ascending  the 
mountain.  I  wish  to  take  them  home  with  me." 

The  Speaking  Bird  seemed  reluctant  to  satisfy  the 
Princess,  and,  indeed,  at  first  refused  to  reply.  "Bird," 
said  the  Princess,  "remember  that  thou  art  my  slave. 
Thy  life  is  at  my  disposal."  "That  I  cannot  deny," 
replied  the  Speaking  Bird,  "but  although  what  thou 
askest  is  difficult,  yet  will  I  do  it  for  thee.  At  thy  feet 
is  a  little  pitcher  full  of  magic  water.  Take  it,  and  as 
thou  descendest  the  mountain  sprinkle  a  little  of  the 
water  upon  each  black  stone."  The  Princess  perceiving 
the  little  pitcher,  took  it  up,  and,  carrying  with  her 
the  cage  and  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  flagon  of  Golden 


264       The   Princess    Periezade 

Water  and  the  branch  of  the  Singing  Tree,  began  to 
descend  the  mountain.  As  she  went  she  threw  a  little 
of  the  magic  water  upon  each  black  stone,  and  it  im- 
mediately changed  into  a  man.  As  she  did  not  miss  a 
single  stone,  the  horses,  and  the  two  Princes  her 
brothers,  and  all  the  other  Princes,  resumed  their 
natural  forms. 

The  Princes  Bahman  and  Per  viz  instantly  recognized 
their  sister,  and  ran  to  embrace  her.  She  returned  their 
embraces,  and  expressed  her  delight.  Thereupon  she 
told  them  all  that  had  happened  to  her  from  beginning 
to  end,  and  showed  them  the  Speaking  Bird,  the  Sing- 
ing Tree  and  the  Golden  Water.  At  this  her  brothers 
were  delighted,  and  filled  with  gratitude;  and  they 
expressed  their  thanks  for  all  that  she  had  done  for 
them.  The  other  Princes,  who  had  been  black  stones, 
learning  how  she  had  restored  them  to  life,  declared 
themselves  her  slaves,  saying  that  they  were  ready  to 
obey  her  in  all  things.  "Indeed,"  replied  the  Princess, 
"as  my  intention  was  solely  to  recover  my  brothers, 
ye  owe  me  nothing,  ye  are,  instead,  free  as  when  ye 
journeyed  hither  to  procure  these  rarities.  Let  us, 
however,  stay  no  longer  in  this  place,  but  mount  our 
horses  and  return  to  our  homes." 

Thereupon  they  all  mounted  their  horses,  and  rode 
on  until  they  came  to  the  old  man,  whon/i  they  found 
dead,  either  from  old  age,  or  because  he  was  no  longer 
needed  to  show  the  way  to  the  three  rarities.  All  the 
Princes,  who  had  come  from  other  countries,  here  took 
grateful  leave  of  the  Princess  Periezade  and  her  two 
brothers,  and  rode  away. 


Cucumber  Stuffed  with    Pearls    265 


THE  CUCUMBER  STUFFED  WITH  PEARLS 

4-  Jf$>  f°r  tne  Princess,  when  she  arrived  at  her  man- 
Cm  J  S*on'  S^e  P^ace(^  *ke  Speaking  Bird  in  the  gar- 
^•m  den,  and  he  no  sooner  began  to  warble  than 
+ 1  he  was  surrounded  with  nightingales,  larks, 
-\  I  linnets,  goldfinches,  and  every  kind  of  delight- 

1  I  ful  bird.  And  the  Singing  Tree  was  no  sooner 
set  in  the  earth,  than  it  took  root  and  became  a  great 
tree,  the  leaves  of  which  gave  out  a  harmonious  con- 
cert. A  large  basin  of  beautiful  marble  was  placed  in 
the  garden,  and  in  it  the  Princess  poured  the  Golden 
Water,  which  instantly  increased  so  that  it  reached  the 
top  of  the  basin,  and  then  formed  a  fountain  in  the 
centre,  which  shot  twenty  feet  into  the  air,  and  again 
fell  into  the  basin  without  overflowing. 

The  fame  of  these  wonders  was  presently  spread 
abroad,  and  a  great  many  people  came  to  admire  them. 
Some  days  after  their  return  the  Princes  Bahman  and 
Perviz  mounted  their  horses  and  went  forth  to  hunt. 
They  were  but  two  or  three  leagues  from  their  house, 
when  they  perceived  the  Sultan  Khosroushah  in  pur- 
suit of  game.  As  they  met  him  in  a  narrow  path  from 
which  they  could  not  retreat  without  being  seen, 
they  alighted  from  their  horses,  and  prostrated  them- 
selves before  him  without  lifting  their  heads.  The 
Sultan,  who  saw  that  they  were  well  dressed  and  finely 
mounted,  had  the  curiosity  to  see  their  faces,  and  com- 
manded them  to  rise.  The  Princes  did  so  with  such 
an  air  of  ease  and  grace  that  the  Sultan  looked  at  them 
some  time  before  he  spoke.  He  then  asked  them  who 
they  were  and  where  they  lived. 


266       The   Princess   Periezade 

"O  my  lord,"  said  Prince  Bahman,  "we  are  the  sons 
of  thy  late  chief  gardener,  and  live  in  a  house  that  he 
built  before  he  died."  "By  what  I  perceive,"  replied 
the  Sultan,  "ye  love  hunting;  therefore  follow  me  and 
choose  your  own  game."  The  Princes  mounted  their 
horses  again  and  followed  the  Sultan;  but  they  had  not 
gone  far  when  they  saw  many  wild  beasts  together. 
Prince  Bahman  chose  a  lion,  and  Prince  Perviz  a  bear, 
which  they  pursued  with  such  courage,  and  attacked 
with  such  skill  that  the  Sultan  was  filled  with  admira- 
tion and  amazement.  In  short  he  conceived  so  great 
an  interest  in  the  two  Princes,  that  he  ordered  them  to 
present  themselves  before  him  at  his  palace  on  the 
following  day.  But  Prince  Bahman  replied:  "O  my 
lord,  we  beg  thee  to  excuse  us.  We  have  a  sister 
younger  than  ourselves  with  whom  we  live  in  such  per- 
fect union  that  we  undertake  nothing  before  asking 
her  advice."  "Consult  thy  sister,"  replied  the  Sultan, 
"and  meet  me  here  to-morrow  and  give  me  an  an- 


swer." 


The  Princes  went  home,  but  forgot  to  inform  the 
Princess  Periezade  of  their  adventure  with  the  Sultan, 
and  of  his  command  to  present  themselves  at  his 
palace;  yet  the  next  morning  they  did  not  fail  to ' 
meet  him  at  the  place  appointed.  "Well,"  said  the 
Sultan,  "have  ye  spoken  to  your  sister?"  At  this 
the  two  Princes  looked  at  each  other  and  blushed. 
"O  my  lord,"  said  Prince  Bahman,  "we  pray  thee 
to  excuse  us,  for  both  my  brother  and  I  forgot." 
"Then  remember  to-day,"  replied  the  Sultan,  "and 
bring  me  an  answer  here  to-morrow."  The  Princes 
again  forgot  to  inform  their  sister  of  the  event,  and  the 
next  day  presented  themselves  before  the  Sultan  as 


Cucumber  Stuffed   with    Pearls    267 

before.  He  again  forgave  their  negligence,  but  to  pre- 
vent their  forgetting  a  third  time,  he  presented  Prince 
Bahman  with  three  little  golden  balls,  saying:  "Place 
these  in  thy  bosom,  and  the  noise  they  will  make  falling 
out  on  the  floor  when  thou  dost  undress,  will  remind 
thee,  if  thou  dost  not  recollect  before."  The  event  hap- 
pened just  as  the  Sultan  had  foreseen;  without  the  balls, 
the  Princes  would  not  have  thought  of  speaking  to 
their  sister  of  this  affair.  For  as  Prince  Bahman  un- 
loosed his  girdle  to  go  to  bed,  the  balls  dropped  upon 
the  floor.  He  then  called  Prince  Perviz  and  they  both 
went  into  the  apartment  of  the  Princess  Periezade,  to 
whom  they  told  all  that  had  happened  from  first  to 
last. 

The  Princess  was  astonished  at  this  intelligence,  and 
she  said :  "  I  fear  much  lest  your  meeting  with  the  Sultan 
separate  you  from  me.  However,  as  Sultans  will  be 
obeyed  in  all  things,  it  may  be  dangerous  for  you  to 
oppose  the  command  of  Sultan  Khosroushah;  otherwise 
I  should  advise  you  not  to  present  yourselves  before 
him.  But  before  we  decide  the  matter,  let  us  consult 
the  Speaking  Bird  and  hear  what  he  has  to  say,  for  he 
is  very  wise  and  hath  promised  me  his  assistance  in  all 
difficulties."  The  Princess  then  sent  for  the  cage,  after 
which  she  related  to  the  Bird  all  that  had  happened. 
He  answered:  "The  Princes,  thy  brothers,  must  obey 
the  Sultan's  command,  and  in  their  turn  invite  him  to 
come  and  see  thy  mansion." 

The  next  morning  the  Princes  met  the  Sultan  hunt- 
ing, who  asked  them  if  they  had  remembered  to  speak 
to  their  sister.  "Yes,  O  my  lord,"  replied  Prince  Bah- 
man, "we  have  obtained  her  consent  and  we  await 
with  impatience  the  time  to  present  ourselves  before 


268       The   Princess   Periezade 

thee."  The  Sultan,  delighted  at  hearing  these  words, 
ordered  the  Princes  to  ride  beside  his  horse  and  ac- 
company him  to  his  palace.  They  did  so  and  entered 
the  city  in  state,  while  the  eyes  of  the  people,  who 
crowded  the  streets,  were  fixed  upon  the  Princes  Bah- 
man  and  Perviz,  and  all  agreed  in  wishing  that  the 
Sultan  had  been  blessed  with  two  such  handsome  sons. 
The  Sultan  entered  his  palace,  and  ordered  a  feast  to 
be  prepared.  He  then  entertained  the  Princes  magnif- 
icently and  clad  them  in  robes  of  honour,  and  con- 
versed with  them. 

Night  approaching,  the  brothers  kissed  the  ground 
before  the  Sultan,  and  asked  his  permission  that  they 
might  return  to  their  sister,  saying:  "O  our  lord,  when 
thou  goest  a-hunting  wilt  thou  not  do  us  the  honour 
to  visit  our  house,  and  refresh  thyself?  It  is  not  worthy 
of  thy  presence,  but  Sultans  sometimes  have  vouch- 
safed to  take  shelter  in  a  cottage."  "O  my  children," 
replied  the  Sultan,  "your  house  cannot  be  otherwise 
than  beautiful  and  worthy  of  its  owners.  To-morrow 
morning  I  will  be  at  the  place  where  I  first  met  you. 
Meet  me,  and  ye  shall  be  my  guides." 

When  the  Princes  Bahman  and  Perviz  had  returned 
home,  they  gave  the  Princess  an  account  of  the  dis- 
tinguished reception  the  Sultan  had  given  them,  and 
told  her  that  he  would  visit  their  mansion  the  next 
morning.  "Then,"  said  the  Princess,  "  we  must  prepare 
a  repast  fit  for  a  Sultan,  and  I  will  consult  the  Speaking 
Bird;  perhaps  he  will  tell  us  what  is  appropriate  for 
the  occasion"  The  Princes  approved  of  her  plan, 
and  after  they  had  retired  she  consulted  the  Bird  alone. 
"Bird,"  said  she,  "the  Sultan  will  do  us  the  honour 
to-morrow  to  come  and  visit  our  mansion.  Tell  us  what 


Cucumber  Stuffed   with   Pearls    269 

we  must  do  to  entertain  him  in  a  fitting  manner." 
"O  my  good  mistress,"  replied  the  Speaking  Bird, 
"thou  hast  excellent  cooks,  let  them  do  the  best  they 
can,  but  above  all  let  them  prepare  a  dish  of  cucum- 
bers stuffed  with  pearls,  which  must  be  set  before 
the  Sultan  in  the  first  course  before  any  other 
dishes." 

"Cucumbers  stuffed  with  pearls!"  exclaimed  the 
Princess  Periezade,  with  amazement.  "Surely,  Bird, 
thou  knowest  not  what  thou  sayest!  It  is  an  unheard- 
of  dish.  Besides,  all  the  pearls  I  have  are  not  enough 
for  such  a  dish!"  "O  my  mistress,"  answered  the 
Speaking  Bird,  "do  what  I  say,  and  be  not  uneasy 
about  what  will  happen.  Nothing  but  good  will  fol- 
low. As  for  the  pearls,  go  early  to-morrow  morning 
to  the  foot  of  the  first  tree  on  thy  right  hand  in  the 
garden.  Dig  under  it,  and  thou  wilt  find  more  than 
thou  needest." 

Morning  having  arrived,  the  Princess,  attended  by 
a  gardener,  went  early  to  the  tree  which  the  Speaking 
Bird  had  told  her  of,  and  bade  the  man  dig  at  its  foot. 
He  did  so  and  soon  struck  something  hard  with  his  spade, 
and  presently  uncovered  a  golden  box  about  a  foot 
square  which  he  handed  to  the  Princess.  On  opening 
it  she  saw  it  to  be  full  of  magnificent  pearls.  She  shut 
the  box,  and  returned  with  it  to  the  house;  while  the 
gardener  threw  the  earth  into  the  hole  at  the  foot  of 
the  tree,  as  it  was  before.  The  Princess  then  called 
the  chief  cook,  and  gave  him  directions  for  preparing 
the  banquet,  saying:  "Besides  all  this  thou  must  pre- 
pare an  extraordinary  dish  for  the  Sultan's  own  eating, 
composed  of  cucumbers  stuffed  with  these  pearls;" 
and  at  the  same  time  she  opened  the  golden  box  and 


2 yo       The   Princess   Periezade 

showed  him  the  pearls.  The  chief  cook,  though  filled 
with  astonishment  at  such  an  order,  took  the  box  and 
returned  to  the  kitchen. 

The  next  day,  the  two  Princes  went  to  the  place 
appointed  and  as  soon  as  the  Sultan  arrived  the  hunt 
began  and  lasted  till  midday.  Prince  Bahman  then 
conducted  the  Sultan  to  the  mansion,  while  Prince 
Perviz  rode  on  before  to  announce  their  coming  to  the 
Princess  Periezade.  When  the  Sultan  entered  the  court- 
yard, the  Princess,  approaching,  threw  herself  at  his 
feet,  and  saluted  him.  He  raised  her,  and,  after  gazing 
for  some  time  upon  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  he  said: 
"Verily  these  brothers  are  worthy  of  this  sister,  and 
she  is  worthy  of  them!  After  looking  on  this  face,  so 
full  of  beauty  and  intelligence,  I  am  not  amazed  that 
the  brothers  will  do  nothing  without  their  sister's  con- 
sent! I  will  now  enjoy  the  sight  of  this  mansion,  which 
I  have  heard  tell  is  full  of  rarities." 

"O  my  lord,"  replied  the  Princess,  "it  is  only  a  plain 
country-place,  fit  for  such  people  as  we  are,  who  live 
retired  from  the  world.  It  is  not  to  be  compared 
with  houses  in  the  great  cities,"  and  having  spoken 
thus  the  Princess  led  the  Sultan  into  the  mansion.  She 
conducted  him  through  all  the  apartments,  and  the 
Sultan  was  filled  with  wonder  and  admiration  when  he 
saw  the  magnificent  furniture  and  the  rich  carpets  and 
hangings  in  every  room.  The  Princess  opened  a  door, 
which  led  into  the  garden,  and  the  first  object  which 
presented  itself  to  the  Sultan's  view,  was  the  fountain 
of  Golden  Water  that  was  playing  high  in  the  air. 
The  Princess  then  led  him  to  the  spot  where  the  Sing- 
ing Tree  was  planted,  and  there  the  Sultan  heard  a 
most  harmonious  concert  different  from  any  he  had 


Cucumber  Stuffed  with   Pearls    271 

ever  heard  before.  Overcome  with  amazement  he 
followed  the  Princess  who  conducted  him  to  another 
part  of  the  garden,  where  he  observed  a  prodigious 
number  of  singing  birds  in  the  trees  around,  filling  the 
air  with  their  songs  and  warblings.  "These  birds," 
said  the  Princess,  "come  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to 
accompany  the  song  of  a  Speaking  Bird,  which  thou 
mayest  perceive  in  a  cage  hanging  in  one  of  the  windows 
of  the  hall  in  which  our  repast  will  be  served.  His 
notes  are  sweeter  than  those  of  any  other  bird,  even  of 
the  nightingale." 

The  Sultan  went  into  the  hall,  and  as  the  Speaking 
Bird  was  singing,  the  Princess  raised  her  voice,  and 
said:  "O  my  slave,  here  is  the  Sultan.  Salute  him." 
The  Speaking  Bird  immediately  left  off  singing,  and 
all  the  other  birds  ceased  also.  "The  Sultan  is  wel- 
come," it  said,  "Allah  prosper  him,  and  give  him  long 
life!"  After  this  the  Princess  placed  the  Sultan  on  a 
couch  which  was  made  of  alabaster  overlaid  with  plates 
of  red  gold.  The  two  Princes  entered  and  seated  them- 
selves near  the  Princess,  and  the  slaves  brought  in  the 
repast. 

As  soon  as  the  Sultan  saw  the  dish  of  cucumbers,  he 
reached  out  his  hand  and  took  one,  but  when  he  had 
cut  it  he  was  astonished  to  find  it  stuffed  with  pearls. 
"What,"  said  he,  "is  this?  With  what  design  were 
these  cucumbers  filled  with  such  riches,  since  pearls 
cannot  be  eaten?"  He  then  looked  at  the  two  Princes 
and  the  Princess,  but  the  Speaking  Bird  interrupting 
him,  said:  "O  my  lord,  canst  thou  wonder  at  cucumbers 
stuffed  with  pearls,  and  yet  so  easily  believe  that  thy 
two  sons  were  a  dog  and  a  yellow  cat,  and  thy  daughter 
a  mouse?  Verily  the  two  sisters  of  the  Sultana  were 


272        The   Princess   Periezade 

envious  of  her  good  fortune,  and  satisfied  their  malice 
and  cruelty  by  deceiving  thee.  Accuse  them  and  they 
will  confess  their  evil  deeds.  The  two  brothers  and 
the  sister,  whom  thou  seest  before  thee,  are  thine  own 
children.  They  were  exposed  in  baskets,  and  thy  head 
gardener  found  them,  and  provided  for  them  and 
educated  them  with  love  and  care." 

Hearing  these  words  the  Sultan  was  filled  with  de- 
light. "Bird,"  cried  he,  "I  believe  that  what  thou  hast 
discovered  to  me  is  true,  for  from  the  first  I  have  been 
drawn  to  these  young  people!  Come,  then,  my  sons, 
come,  my  daughter,  let  me  embrace  you,  and  give  you 
the  first  marks  of  a  father's  love  and  tenderness!" 
The  Sultan  then  arose,  and  embraced  the  two  Princes 
and  the  Princess,  and  they  embraced  him.  He  then 
finished  his  repast,  and  arising,  said:  "O  my  children, 
ye  see  in  me  your  father;  to-morrow  will  I  bring  the 
Sultana  your  mother,  therefore  prepare  to  receive  her." 
He  then  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  to  his  palace, 
where  he  alighted  and  commanded  his  Vizier  to  seize 
the  Sultana's  two  sisters  and  bring  them  before  him. 
The  Vizier  did  so,  and  they  were  brought  before  the 
Sultan.  They  confessed  their  crimes  and  were  con- 
demned and  instantly  beheaded. 

Then  the  Sultan  Khosroushah,  accompanied  by  his 
grandees,  went  to  the  place  where  the  Sultana's  cage 
was  hung,  and  caused  her  to  be  taken  out.  He  then 
embraced  her  tenderly  and  wept  on  seeing  the  misera- 
ble condition  to  which  she  was  reduced.  "O  my  be- 
loved," he  said,  "I  come  to  entreat  thy  pardon  for  the 
injustice  I  have  done  thee,  and  to  make  reparation  for 
all.  I  have  already  punished  the  wicked  wretches  who 
deceived  me  in  such  an  abominable  manner;  and  I 


Cucumber   Stuffed   with    Pearls    273 

hope  that  thou  wilt  forget  all  sorrow  when  I  present 
to  thee  two  accomplished  Princes  and  a  lovely  Princess, 
our  children.  Come,  now,  and  resume  thy  former  rank 
and  all  the  honours  that  are  thy  due."  All  this  being 
said  and  done,  the  news  spread  through  the  city,  and 
the  streets  were  filled  with  rejoicing  people. 

Next  morning  early,  the  Sultan  and  the  Sultana, 
arrayed  in  magnificent  garments,  went  with  all  their 
court  to  the  house  built  by  the  head  gardener;  where 
the  Sultan  presented  the  Princes  Bahman  and  Perviz 
and  the  Princess  Periezade  to  his  wife,  saying:  "These, 
O  my  much  injured  wife,  are  the  two  Princes  thy  sons, 
and  the  Princess  thy  daughter.  Embrace  them  with 
tenderness  since  they  are  worthy  both  of  me  and  thee." 
The  Sultana,  then,  with  tears  flowing  from  her  eyes, 
received  her  children  with  joy,  on  whose  account  she 
had  so  long  endured  the  severest  sufferings. 

The  Sultan  then  mounted  his  horse,  and  with  the 
Princes  Bahman  and  Perviz  on  his  right  hand,  and  the 
Sultana  and  the  Princess  Periezade  on  his  left,  and 
followed  by  the  officers  of  his  court,  he  returned  to  his 
capital.  Crowds  of  people  came  out  to  meet  them  and 
with  acclamations  of  joy  ushered  them  into  the  city. 
All  eyes  were  fixed  not  only  on  the  Sultana  and  her 
children,  but  also  on  the  Speaking  Bird  which  the 
Princess  carried  before  her  in  his  cage.  Every  one 
admired  his  sweet  notes  which  drew  about  him  all  the 
other  singing  birds. 

Thus  the  Princes  Bahman  and  Perviz  and  the 
Princess  Periezade  were  brought  to  the  palace  with 
much  pomp  and  ceremony;  and  nothing  was  heard 
or  seen  all  night  but  illuminations  and  rejoicings 
throughout  the  city.  These  lasted  many  days  and 


274       The   Princess    Periezade 

spread  throughout  all  parts  of  the  empire  of  Persia. 
And  after  this  the  Sultan  and  his  wife  and  children 
continued  to  live  together  in  utmost  happiness  until 
they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the 
separator  of  companions. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 


LOAN  DEPT. 

s  duapitthf  las*  di 
H  thf  cfte  Jo  *kic 

fcx>dibJU|cti 


This  book  is  duapifcfthf  laa*  da 

01 
Renewed 


ow,  or 


REC'D  LD 


NOV    81962 


L, 


REC'D  LD 


APR  2  1  '64  - 


StP 


LD  21A-50m-3,'6'2 
(C7007slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 

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8Nou'62WA 


LD  21-100m-6,'56 
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General  Library 

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y 


B  00099 


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